Clay David Butler

Clay David Butler was born in Peoria, Illinois on June 23rd 1966 to Carole Butler (Gatesh) and David Butler. His brother, Kevin was born in 1969 and his sister, Lisa was born in 1970. His family moved to Arizona where he was for the majority of his early life and graduated from Dobson High School (Mesa) in 1984. During his youth he spent many hours fishing with his brother Kevin and friend Rick McMurray, in the lake behind their houses at Dobson Ranch. He lived in Tacoma, Washington for middle school and California (El Centro, Santa Rosa) during his late teen's and young adulthood. In Santa Rosa he befriended John Crowhurst and they started their band, Abnormal Growth. In 1988 he moved to Seaside, CA with his family. His last move was to Santa Cruz, with his life partner Rosalee Schelstraete in 1994. Clay and Rosalee met in Santa Rosa in 1987 and in 2003 they had their daughter, Jennifer. They celebrated their 35th anniversary on June 5th 2023. Clay was diagnosed with Ocular Melanoma, a rare aggressive eye cancer in January 2022. It metastasized to his liver in September. He died on June 13th 2023 at home with the support of hospice, 17 ½ months after the original diagnosis. He was extremely proactive during his cancer journey and mentored others who were diagnosed with OM. He was generous with his time, knowledge and resources throughout his life. He was a sharer in the truest sense. Early on in his life he began drawing. Graphic design became his profession and continued in different forms throughout his life. At 12, he got his first camera and photography became a passion. During adulthood he worked at Marzi Sink Factory in Seaside, painting murals on sinks and tiles. Clay illustrated the political comic strip, Sidewalk Bubblegum from 1993-2001. Then in 1998 he got a computer and started doing web design. Clay volunteered at Community Television in Santa Cruz, when it first began and where learned how to do videography. He had several programs there; The Bill and Clay Show, Yadda Yadda and Book TV, along with numerous documentaries which he made with his video partner, Peter McGettigan. Clay began doing packaging design in the 2000's and it encompassed many of his creative skills including writing. In 2001 Clay and Rosalee bought a home in Alimur Mobile Home Park, where he became President of the HOA. He set out to purchase the park from the owner and make it a resident owned. In 2016, his goal was realized. He considered it one of his most important legacies. Clay absolutely loved life. He lived in the moment in a way that was inspiring. He loved learning and being a mentor. He was an artist, performer and creative being. He was the Twilight Ninja, on social media, where he posted local landscape photography of the Santa Cruz coastline, especially Walton Lighthouse. Clay's love of comedy and music were part of his daily life. He loved fitness and health. He loved surfing in the way it should be loved, it was about the wave, being in nature and sharing the experience with others. His favorite spots were the Point and the Hook, which he surfed for decades. Clay cared deeply about politics and ethics, Fairness was a guiding force for him. He had many important friendships throughout his life. If you think of him often, and have shared memories, you are part of one. Clay was predeased by his grandparents; George and Kay Gatesh and Donald and Rozelle Butler. He will be lovingly remembered by Rosalee and Jennifer, his parent's, Dave and Carole, siblings, Kevin and Lisa as well as his nephews, Alex and Saxon Butler and Kyle Butler-Fish, his extended Butler, Gatesh and Schelstraete family members, including countless friends in the surfing, photography, OM and Santa Cruz communities. A Celebration of Life will be held on July 2nd for family and close friends and a Paddle Out will be held where his ashes will be scattered at sea. Please donate to A Cure In Sight, the national Ocular Melanoma nonprofit in his name if you wish to honor his memory.