Carolyn Maxine Clayton

Carolyn Maxine ClaytonJuly 17th 1932 – April 9th 2025

Carolyn Maxine Clayton, beloved mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully in Kent Washington at the age of 92.

Born in Oklahoma in 1932, Carolyn carried with her the resilient spirit of the Dust Bowl generation—a grit and grace that defined her life. She moved to Washington, where she lived for many years in Kent, raising her family and building a life rooted in strength, learning, and heart.

From an early age, she loved reading books, especially poetry, mystery and history. Carolyn became a devoted educator and spent much of her life as a teacher, pouring her knowledge, passion, and patience into countless young lives. She cherished the power of learning, and her influence extended far beyond the classroom walls. Her wisdom was not only taught, but lived—through stories, guidance, and the lessons she passed down to her family.

Carolyn raised three daughters, each a reflection of her courage and determination. She was fiercely loyal, sometimes stubborn, often strong-willed, and cared about people's welfare. She was the rock of the family—unwavering in her presence, and a source of strength through every season of life.

She had a lifelong love for gardening, and her home was filled with flourishing flowers, vegetables, herbs, and the scent of soil—things she nurtured with the same care she gave to the people around her. In her younger years, she also modeled, performed on stage and in television commercials, bringing beauty, poise, and confidence to everything she did.

Carolyn was a traveler, a storyteller, a woman who lived many chapters and earned every one of them. She held strong opinions and stood firmly in who she was. And though she wasn’t perfect, her love for her family was earnest, and her presence will be missed beyond words.

She is survived by her daughters, Jana and Ginny Jones, and by her grandchildren, who carry her stories and her strength forward. She leaves behind a family who loves her dearly, and a legacy rooted in laughter, resilience, learning, and spirit.

A private service will be held by the family, with a celebration of life to follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor Carolyn’s memory by planting something beautiful or sharing a story with someone you care about—just as she would have done.