Diane Clayton

Notice Diane Bouhaben Clayton died peacefully at home with her family by her side on September 13, 2018. Diane will be remembered for her contagious smile and the special twinkle in her eyes. She created a loving and nurturing environment for her sons and grandchildren, making sure that each morning was filled with the potential for new learning, shared experiences and, for the grandchildren, a selection of ice cream after dinner. She was grateful for her family, friends, faith and life – and made “saying thankfuls” part of dinner every night. The oldest of seven siblings, Diane was born July 24, 1943, in Oakland, California, to Jean and Emile Bouhaben. Throughout her life, Diane shared stories of family gatherings at the Russian River, camping trips to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite, and time with relatives on Southern California beaches. Diane added Bill Clayton to those family outings soon after they met in junior high. Bill and Diane dated throughout their time together at Piedmont High School and the University of California at Berkeley, where Diane received a degree in Elementary Education. They married in 1965 at the Carmel Mission. They lived in Florida and North Carolina where Diane taught elementary school and Bill attended flight school with the Marines. After Bill’s service in Vietnam, they lived in Oceanside and Pasadena. In January 1973, they moved to Boise, Idaho. In 1976, they moved to the XL Ranch on the Boise River, where they raised their three sons, Steve, Mike and Joe. Diane was actively engaged in life on the ranch. In the early years, she helped Bill and the boys wash Hereford cattle and prep them for shows. In 1978, she and Bill started Clayton Tree Farm. She joined the family in planting, trimming, digging and shipping the trees. Outside of the business, Diane worked hard to make extended family gatherings at the ranch special to everyone. She would stay up late when family was staying overnight because she wanted to make sure the back room was set up for children to discover dress-up costumes, blocks and games that would lead to creative playtime. She also enjoyed sharing her love of black labs with others. The family always had at least one black lab, the most famous being Kicks, the first tee-retrieving dog at Bronco Stadium. Over her lifetime, Diane took care of nearly fifty puppies born on the ranch, socializing the new litters and critically vetting all potential new owners. Most importantly, Diane loved learning and sharing that learning with others. She actively participated in her sons’ and her grandchildren’s educations as a volunteer and advocate. She made music a priority for the family, insisting the boys complete their 30 minutes of daily piano practice before getting a ride to sports. She started a program at Bishop Kelly High School to help students find colleges that matched their interests. In her later years, she participated in Elder Hostel bike tours and Osher classes. She created environments where children, adults, and families could grow, explore and learn together. In her free time, Diane treasured being outdoors with family and friends. She enjoyed family camping and backpacking trips, especially to the Sawtooth Mountains. She cherished walks along beaches in California and riding her bicycle, especially along rural country roads. Diane also appreciated and valued being part of Catholic communities, including parishes they attended and Bishop Kelly High School. She celebrated and gave thanks for the gifts of life in Idaho. Diane is survived by her husband, Bill; sons: Steve Clayton of Boise and his children, Zachary and Naomi; Mike and Maria Clayton of Davis, California, and their children, Alisa and Sonia; Joe and Sarah Clayton of Eagle and their children, Amaia, Alec and Owen. She is also survived by sisters: Nancy of Santa Barbara, Lynne of Carmel Valley, Suzanne of Carmel and Sarah of Pacific Grove and brother, Scott of Carmel Valley. She is preceded in death by her brother, Bob. The family would like to thank Amber for the friendship and wonderful care provided to her over the past few years. They would also like to acknowledge the tremendous support provided this summer by the nurses at First Choice Hospice, especially Connie, Mary and Liann. *See "Service Information" tab for service details.