Clayton A Houle

Clay was born 4/22/1927 in Escanaba, Michigan and enlisted in the Navy after High School. After his service in WWII, Clay enrolled in Michigan Tech University in Houghton, MI and graduated in 1950 with a BS in Chemical Engineering. He married Eunice Arens from Hancock, MI on September 22, 1951. Starting his career at General Motors in Flint, MI, Clay built the family’s first house in Lapeer, MI. A new job at Glidden Paint Co. in Cleveland, OH resulted in Clay moving the family to Grafton, OH. In 1962, Clay joined the team that opened up a new Glidden plant in Dallas, TX. Clay worked at Glidden and its successors for the next 35 years.

Clay was a member of St. Monica Catholic Church for 50 years, and was active in the Optimist Club, Sparkman Club, Little League baseball, Jesuit High School, and the senior guards at St. Monica School. He was always available to throw a ball, hit grounders, and shoot hoops when the kids were growing up. He was an avid runner and won several age group running races. He enjoyed home projects, gardening, and hanging out with his family, especially his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Eunice; sons Steve (Terry), Tom (Rene), and David; daughter Julie; grandchildren Christopher (Jennifer), Jennifer; Sarah Dyer (Ben), Stephanie, Laura, Mark, Mary; Carolyn & Karen Wilson; Melissa, Clay, and Hanna; great-grandchildren, Noah & Joshua Dyer; and brothers John and James (Marilyn). He was preceded in death by his eldest son Michael Clayton Houle and his sister Dolores.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am Friday, October 5, 2012 at St. Monica Catholic Church, 9933 Midway Road, Dallas, Texas 75220 with Fr. Stephen Bierschenk celebrant. The family will receive friends at 6:00 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012 with a Rosary to follow at 7:00 pm in the Chapel of Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, Dallas, TX 75225. Burial will be at 10:30 am on Monday, October 8, 2012 at DFW National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Monica Church building fund. Online condolences may be made at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com.