Jolene Clayton

Jolene Call Clayton

November 4, 1930 ~ July 26, 2015

Jolene Call Clayton passed away on July 26, 2015, just as she had lived:  with boundless love, grace, courage and humor. Throughout her last night, Jolene entertained the many family and friends at her bedside with her trademark wit.  Once she was satisfied that her audience could handle it, Jolene announced that “this show is over” and went to sleep with a gentle “Sayonara.”

Jolene was born in Preston, Idaho, on November 4, 1930, to Elma Rowberry Call and Joseph Grant Call.  Jolene grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and then attended Utah State University.  Jolene married Dean Newell Clayton, an attorney practicing in Ogden, Utah, and their lives soon revolved around their five obstreperous children.  Dean passed away suddenly at age 44 on June 1, 1964, leaving Jolene to support their young family at a time and in a place when relatively few women worked outside the home.  Jolene entered the working world as a sales clerk at a department store, then moved to the Internal Revenue Service, and ultimately worked her way up the professional career ladder at the Federal Aviation Administration.  At the FAA, Jolene was responsible for leased communications technology, arranging for “broadband access” years before it became mainstream.  Jolene worked for the FAA in Seattle for years and made many life-long friends there.

Upon her retirement from the FAA, Jolene moved to Salt Lake City in order to be near her children and grandchildren.  She spent many happy years living at Friendship Manor, making wonderful friends -- and a decent amount of money card-sharking with fellow poker and bridge pros.

Jolene felt strongly about improving juvenile justice, and helping at-risk children find their way.  She volunteered as an advocate for troubled teens in court-supervised diversion programs.

Jolene loved her family, friends, pets, theater, travel, books, politics, and thoughtful conversation.  In the last months of her life, Jolene also became very fond of male nurses.

Jolene is survived by her five (now better-behaved) children and their spouses, Ronald (Larraine), Jeffrey (Tracey), Kevin (Laura), Richard Dean (Gissa), and Carol (Dan); twelve beloved grandchildren, Nicole, Natalie, William, Courtney Jo, Kelli, Corrinne, Bryant, Vanessa, Andrew, Maren, Dana, and David; seventeen great-grandchildren, and many cherished nieces and nephews on both the Call and Clayton sides of her family.  She is also survived by her loving sister, Sharon, the “second Mom” to Jolene’s brood.  Jolene was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Dean; and brother, Richard Call, who blessed Jolene with five dear nieces, Leslie, Laura, Karen, Catherine, and Alanna; and sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Call.

Jolene’s family thanks the medical professionals at LDS Hospital who gave Jolene extra time with her loved ones and a graceful exit to her next stage.

Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.  Friends may visit with family on Wednesday from 10 to 10:30 a.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to People Helping People or the Humane Society of Utah.