Mary S. Clayton

Mary Frances Stevens was born on May 19, 1920 in Salt Lake City, Utah the third child and only daughter of Harry and Jemima Wamsley Stevens. When she was 16, after graduating from South High School, she was baptized in the salt lake Tabernacle, without her father’s knowledge! Then the family moved to Los Angeles. She worked for a time at Woolworth’s – in fine hosiery! She also attended classes at Los Angeles City College.

On August 17, 1940, she married Robert William Clayton. After their wedding, which was performed by Bob’s dad Peter, they drove to Salt Lake City and were sealed in the temple there.

In 1948, they moved with their little family of 4 children to Granada Hills – out in the “sticks”according to their families! Mary raised her family in a little house Bob built while he finished the “big house”. It was supposed to take 6 months – but it took several years. The little family grew to 12 children – 6 boys and 6 girls. Mary did not complain – although any one of us might feel like she would have every justification for doing so – but she was infinitely patient and forbearing. Ultimately their family grew to 57 grandchildren and at last count 126 great-grandchildren. Sometimes Mary would shake her head and say that it wasn’t about the numbers, but she loved them all.

After her youngest child was in school all day, Mary resumed her college career- having a degree had always been her goal. She took classes on and off – continuing to serve in the church and care for her large, growing family. She was twice a Relief Society President, served in the Stake Relief Society presidency, taught “theology” and Genealogy back in the old days when they called it that, was the eternal Den Leader, and taught Seminary for 13 years.

And in June of 1988, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a minor in English from Cal State Northridge. She also earned a certificate to teach English as a second language. She was fond of noting that although she didn’t want to get a job, they couldn’t turn her away if she applied just because she was older!!

In 1990, Mary served with her husband Bob in the Denver Temple as a temple missionary. Serving a mission together was a lifelong goal they were happy to achieve.

After Bob’s death in 2000, Mary lived with her daughter Donna in the family home. They both enjoyed visiting and having visitors. She fulfilled a lifelong dream when she and Donna traveled across country to Church History sites and the Hill Cumorah Pageant, concluding with a train trip across the Rockies in Canada.

She died as she lived, accepting the trials she faced with faith and trust in the Lord.