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JAMES WALLACE CLAYTON (JIM)
Date of Passing: Mar 15, 2022
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or Memory
JAMES WALLACE CLAYTON
1933 - 2022
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, James (Jim) Clayton, on March 15.
Jim will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 65 years, Ardrée Clayton (née Pickering); children, David (Kimberley) Clayton, Diana (Jocelyn) Clayton-Vandal, Daniel (Margarida) Clayton, Denise Clayton; six grandchildren, Riley (Jennifer) Clayton, Justin (Danielle) Clayton, Alexa (Michael) Knox, Daphnee Vandal, Jean-Julien Vandal, Delphine Vandal; six great-grandchildren, Benjamin and William Clayton, Juliette and Austin Clayton, Harvey and Wesley Knox.
Jim was the only child of Edith and Thomas Clayton, born in 1933 in New Westminster, BC. He completed a B.Sc. (Hons) Chemistry in UBC's first graduating class after the Second World War in 1955, and after working a year on Vancouver Island he went on to complete a Ph.D. (Organic Chemistry) at the University of Saskatchewan. He was a career scientist for Fisheries and Oceans (Environment Canada), involved in genetics research in the pre-internet era. He loved his lab work and guiding post-doctoral students in research at the University of Manitoba.
Jim was an active cross-country skier and cyclist, known in the neighbourhood for his knee socks and tandem bicycle, which he would ride with his grandchildren. He loved football, particularly his Saskatchewan Roughriders, and travelled across the country to watch games of grandsons, Riley and Justin. He loved jazz music, especially big-band and improvisational, and was often in attendance supporting his children and grandchildren in both band and choral concerts, and musicals in Manitoba and Vermont. He also loved to travel, especially to his beloved New Zealand, where Jim and Ardrée made lifelong friends Kaye and Winston Wingfield and family.
Over the last two years of his life, Jim has been cared for by some amazingly kind and compassionate people from River Park Gardens, and our family is forever grateful. The family would also like to thank Wendy Schettler from the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba for the many hours of support and reassurance.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba or the Parkinson's Society of Manitoba.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 19, 2022
Condolences & Memories (7 entries)
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We are sorry to hear of Jim's passing. We have many fond memories of connecting with Jim as our neighbour at Grassy Lake. We still think of him often and sometimes feel his presence still walking the land. Our heart-felt condolences to Ardree and the rest of the family. - Posted by: Deanna & Colin (Neighbours at Grassy Lake) on: Apr 07, 2022
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We were saddened to hear of Jim's passing and offer our condolences to the family. Jim was instrumental in starting my career with DFO and as a mentor. One bit of advice that never left me was” Never underestimate the value of serendipity in science.” Rob also remembers him sitting quietly in long meetings then in 10 words or less making the really important issues clear. We both fondly remember house parties at Jim and Ardree’s, with students, staff and colleagues. Jim was a truly intelligent, caring person. - Posted by: Rob and Barb Stewart (colleagues and friends) on: Mar 23, 2022
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Dear Ardree and family; I was saddened to hear of Jim's passing. I regret not having spent more time trying to find Jim these last few years. I lost contact after I retired from DFO and when I went searching on the internet I couldn't locate him. I treasure the years during which I worked with Jim on biochemcal genetics in Lake Whitefish that I pursued in his lab first for my MSc. and then out in country sampling lakes for my Ph.D with Cas Lindsey as co-supervisor. I think we did some good work together and I learned a lot about figuring out sub-groups of Lake Whitefish following from the post-Wisconsinan drainage networks of western and northern Canada and Yukon. Please accept my heartfeld condolences, Bill Franzin - Posted by: Bill Franzin (Graduate student) on: Mar 20, 2022
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Like Chris Foote, I was a graduate student with Jim. It was an excellent experience, setting me up for a career in science. Jim was always a gentleman, always thoughtful, smart and careful. His often stated motto was that you should not rush through a task; rather, be careful, think things through and get it right the first time, rather than wasting time having to do it again. I would like to offer my condolences to Ardree, to Jim's sons and daughters and all of his family. - Posted by: Drew Bodaly (graduate student and friend) on: Mar 20, 2022
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Dear Ardree, David, Kim and families. It's with sadness that we heard of Jim passing away in Canada. Mike has very fond memories of your visits to and your time spent here in New Zealand. We treasure those memories. It was a very special time for us when we came with our son Ashley to Canada and got to see you all along with your children & grandchildren. We hope to again one day get to visit and would certainly welcome any of you here in New Zealand. Much love to you all Lynn, Mike and family.xx - Posted by: Lynn and Mike Wingdield (Friends) on: Mar 19, 2022
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I had the honour and pleasure of doing my Master's degree work with the great Jim Clayton. He was very smart and very kind and, even more important with me as a graduate student, very patient. A dear man whose wisdom, kindness and guidance stayed with me throughout my career. My sincere condolences to Jim's family. I join them in missing such a great man. Chris Foote - Posted by: Chris Foote (Graduate student) on: Mar 19, 2022
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So sorry to hear about your Dad He was a good man and I will always have fond memories or him ❤ hugs to all - Posted by: Susan turgeon Hogue (Friend) on: Mar 19, 2022