Clay and I established a friendship during our teens and this bond continued over a span of nearly seven decades. These were memorable periods in our life, however, at some point in time we lost touch for a few years only to reconnect again at a "Calgary Stampede" party in 1963. Clay & I certainly maintained an active social life with a nucleus of friends who enjoyed sports, camping-out, fishing/hunting and having a beer together. Although Clay preferred rum & coke, beer was the choice alcoholic beverage for most of us at that time. Wedding bells broke-up the relationship with a number of our acquaintances, however, when Clay & Vi were married in 1966 our friendship remained steadfast. In this context, when I married in 1967 our respective wives also became a part of this inner social circle, thereby developing a loyal friendship. My wife & I invited Clay & Vi to Indonesia in 1988, where they enjoyed the culture, culinary attributes and lush green forests of this archipelago. During their stay they travelled extensively through Java covering the Borobudur temple, iconic lakes, rice paddies etc., however, upon arriving on the Island of Bali they found this paradise outstanding and extended their vacation. The stunning beaches, nightlife, tropical forest, traditional performances and friendly atmosphere was a a fantastic experience for them. Clay & Vi concluded their trip to SE Asia with a stop-over in Jakarta & Singapore before returning to Calgary.
Clay had a great sense of humour and was always a source of entertainment, especially when displaying his unique facial expressions that resonated with those in attendance.
I often find myself thinking of Clay while driving through our old neighbourhood, community centre, schools or various places we hung-out.
Clay was a person who made me feel good about life & humanity. He was like a brother to me & I will always cherish my fond memories of our past.
Dwayne & Susi Bray
