Clayton Smith

Clayton Arthur Smith, November 7, 1915-June 28, 2015. At 98 Clayton could still tell you where the biggest trout are caught and where the best beaver he ever trapped was caught. Clayton went home to be with the Lord at 99 years of age. Born in the Barnard section of Charlevoix, to Clyde and Vera Vance Smith, he came into the world in a country house and he will be buried at Barnard Cemetery not more than a ¼ mile from where he was born. Clayton was a self-made business man, learning early that he could make a lot more selling fruit than picking it. He continued this tradition and supplied the Upper Peninsula with fruit that would not be available to folks unless he brought it up across the Straits. He would tell stories about how he would have a load of fruit and he could go to the front of the line to get on the ferry (pre Big Mac Bridge) and get his load across to be sold. Clayton was in the Civilian Conservation Corps and then joined the Merchant Marines to help support the war effort. He came home to Charlevoix to meet Kathryn Besemer and married her at Barnard Methodist Church. They were married 61 years before Kay died in December of 2011. They had four children Debby (Terry) Wright of Grand Blanc,,Michigan; Randy and Elizabeth Smith of Kentwood, Michigan; Linda (David) Scovel of Higganum, Connecticut; and Gail (Richard) King of Port Penn, Delaware. Nine grandchildren: Daniel and Rachel Wright; Josiah, Cody, and Samuel Scovel; and Kathryn, Olivia, Patience, and Emma Smith and one great grandchild, Lily Rae Forberg. Clayton is also survived by his sister, Marjorie Warner, of Charlevoix. Clayton became an author at 75 years old, writing down his stories because he realized his grandchildren might not get to hear them all. He had to write two books of his stories to get them all in. He like writing down his story so much that he thought he should write down other Charlevoix patriarchs’ stories. Nephew Mick Smith and Clayt would go find the old timers and get them talking and record the stories on tape, and another book was born. His books are in the Charlevoix Library. When he was not on his Ford tractor, plowing up the garden he would be carving an animal from a piece of oak or walnut board Kay used to say “He just can't leave a piece of wood alone!” Clayton's life will be honored at the Barnard Methodist Church where he first heard the stories of his Lord and Savior, whom he loved. His favorite hymn was “I come to the garden alone” and that is where he did most of his talking to the Lord. This poem was written by daughter Gail a few years ago and sums up Clayton. That's My Dad A trapper by trade; A deal always made. An apple to sell; A story to tell. A Christmas tree to shake; Just as mom started to bake. Pumpkins to count; And the dollars do amount. Wood to saw, carve and whittle; And you know it's never little. From dawn to dusk you can hear Clayt say, “Just not enough hours in the day.” Funeral will be 1 pm, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, at the Barnard United Methodist Church in Charlevoix where visitation will begin at 11 am. Burial will follow at the Barnard Cemetery. The Reverends Greg Culver and Craig Pahl officiating. Contributions to the Charlevoix or Barnard United Methodist Church.