R. Clay Baslee

Robert Clayton Baslee, 89, passed away at home on November 1, 2025, after a hard-fought battle.
Please join Clay's family and friends for a celebration of his life on Sunday, November 30th beginning at 1pm until the last friend leaves. The celebration will be held at Haller's Homestyle Catering at 16920 Hwy 135, Boonville, MO. A variety of Clay's favorite sweet treats will be served, and the family asks that you bring your best Clay Baslee stories so we can all laugh and enjoy his legacy.
Clay was born July 12,1936 in Boonville, MO to Bob Baslee and Ann (Neubauer) Baslee. The oldest of six kids, Clay grew up on the family farm, watching trucks on I-70 and dreaming of the day he could drive one. Soon after graduating from Boonville High in 1954, he climbed into the driver's seat and began a 44-year career as a truckdriver, driving in 48 states, Mexico, and Canada. His memorization of highways and byways was legendary. Clay owned his own truck, drove for others, and was a proud member of the Teamsters Union.
Many people knew Clay, but few knew him well. Stoic and stubborn to the very end, Clay did not show his pain from Rheumatoid Arthritis and intestinal bleeding, and the last few years with late-set dementia robbed him of things he enjoyed most. He never spoke of his lifelong struggle with dyslexia but always encouraged his grandson to never let it stop him from following his dream no matter how hard he had to work to achieve it. However, when asked how to get anywhere in the country, he gladly shared a lifetime of knowledge down to the tiniest detail. Only his closet family and friends knew he had won numerous national and divisional driving awards, including National Driver of the Year beating out over 5,000 drivers and an award created especially for him for driving more than 10 million miles accident free. He often said he had backed more miles than most people would ever drive. Clay was an amazing man who never recognized his impact on the world around him.
Clay enjoyed spending his early morning hours at Route B Café with his group of local guys and the waitresses who were like his second family. After a long career of truck driving, he was happiest spending his retirement close to home. Most days he could be found at Route B Café or half asleep in front of the tv watching Gunsmoke and John Wayne, but his favorite thing to do was spending time with his grandkids. In the last couple of years, Clay became the cat whisperer even though he swore he didn't like cats. If he was sitting in his recliner or lying in bed, his cat Callie was there, and she did not like to share him with anyone else. Before illness stole his life, he liked to work on the farm baling hay and hauling cattle or horses for other farmers. He enjoyed raising his own cattle and horses and complaining about one particular "damned 'ol nag" who he swore would walk 40 acres just to step on his foot. In the best of times, Clay and his family raised registered cattle and some of his favorite memories include going to cattle shows around the state with his daughter.
Clay married Alvera (Haller) Hutchison of Boonville, MO on September 20, 1961, in Billingsville, MO. Together with Alvera, Clay had one daughter, Donna, and two stepchildren, Ricky Hutchison and Terry Hutchison Chapman. Clay is survived by Alvera of the home, his daughter, Donna, and his grandsons, Davison and Gabriel, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, granddaughters, Lena Fenton and Kaya Fenton of Boonville and numerous other grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Clay was preceded in death by both parents, all his siblings – Wayne Baslee of Sedalia, Jack Baslee of Boonville, Kay Baslee Barnes of Overland Park, KS, Paul Baslee of Jefferson City, and Jean Wilkinson of Boonville, and both stepchildren- Ricky Hutchison of Boonville, and Terry Hutchison Chapman of Smithville.
In lieu of flowers, Clay requested donations to St. Jude's Children Hospital.
Arrangements are under the direction of Howard-Millard Funeral Home, 1397 Ashley Rd., Boonville, Mo 65233 (660) 882-3381. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.howardfh.com.
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