Clay White Jr.

In Toledo, Ohio, on March 28, 1938 Clay White Sr and Evelyn Harris White welcomed their second child and first son, Clay White Jr., Clay would have nine brothers and sisters. He graduated from Libbey High School in Toledo in 1957 earning a football scholarship to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where he became a varsity running back and corner, married his high school sweetheart Patricia Strange in 1959, had his first child Tonya, and graduated with a BS is Education. Clay became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, taught Plus X Catholic High School students in Lincoln, Nebraska and turned down the opportunity to move into semi-pro football before moving to Santa Ana, California where he and Pat would have their second child, Lisa.

Clay moved from teaching into administration in Santa Ana USD and then transitioned to Irvine USD, from which he retired in June 2002 after 43 years in education. As an elementary assistant principal and then principal, Clay was a beloved leader who followed his calling and had a powerful paternal spirit. Areal people-person, staff, community, and family admired him and happily greeted him wherever he went. He was a kind and gentle man who met people with caring words and warm smile every day, including at Ace Donuts where he stared his day for 50+ years. Yes, every day.

Clay had a varied life. For many years, Clay was a guest speaker at Corona Del Mar High School. In those sessions, he said "I really loved school. I worked hard for perfect attendance. Why? Friends...fun...work wasn't too hard...lunches were good". (Very important -- those lunches). He was an avid Laker fan, loved restaurants, music and singing -- he sang in a professional quartet during high school -- and loved whales, dolphins and other sea life. He fought in the Golden Gloves as a 14-year old, cleaned stables, set bowling pins in a bowling alley, and hauled rubbish with his uncle as a 16-year old. As an adult, he played baseball and basketball, became a Mason, received the Outstanding Educator Award from the OC NACCP in 1993 plus many other community awards, had fun dancing and in later years, traveling with wife Beverley.

On Christmas Eve morning 2020, Clay, known to his birth family as "Buddy", passed away at age 82. He was preceded in death by his parents Clay White Sr. and Evelyn Harris White, his brothers Tony White and baby boy White, his sisters Bessie Jones, Patricia White Coker and Susanne White, and longtime friend Bobby Lockett. He is survived by Beverley, his wife of 27 years, stepsons Michael and Matthew Khalil, daughters Tonya White Ware and Lisa White Anderson, son-in-law Tyrone Ware, sisters Myrtle (Marie) Smith, Eloise Pope, Josalyn Ellerson, and Barbara Young, lifelong friend James Lewis Strange, ten grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family who he cherished and loved.

Clay was a great believer in the adage "life is 85% how you take it and 15% how you make it", and he both did what he could to make positive changes and accepted it when he couldn't. The last years were difficult ones, filled with confusion, memory loss, dementia, and physical issues. However, no matter what, Clay gave you a big smile, asked how you were, and happily hugged you. We will miss that lovely man.