H. Clay Gorton, born March 7, 1923 to Rees Dubois Gorton and Sarah Dorleska Sterrett, passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 20, 2008 after his third battle with cancer. His marriage to Edna Foot was solemnized in the Logan Temple on April 7, 1949. They had five children, David, D. Lynn, Stephen, Rebecca and Elizabeth (deceased); 18 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Clay devoted his life in service to his Savior. He fulfilled six missions, including service as a mission president in Argentina and as president of the Missionary Training Center in Santiago, Chile. He also served as a stake president, bishop, as a welfare services region agent for the Los Angeles Region, as a counselor to four stake presidents, and as a member of three high councils. His final calling was a sealer in the Bountiful Utah Temple.

Following his first mission, he obtained a Master of Arts degree in physics and mathematics at Brigham Young University. After graduation, he conducted applied research in semiconductor physics at Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio for sixteen years. After his service as mission president, he joined the staff of the Electronics and Defense Sector of TRW in Redondo Beach, California, where he was responsible for quality and reliability of the semiconductor devices for spacecraft application. Following his retirement from TRW in 1986, he served four years as Chief Scientist at TRW Components International.

He had been active in the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Institute of Environmental Sciences and The Electrochemical Society. He served as Divisional Editor for the Journal of the Electrochemical Society. He is the author of eighteen technical publications, and has been a guest speaker for the American Society for Quality Control. He also has been a guest lecturer at the Moore School of Engineering in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

After moving to Bountiful, Utah in 1992, he obtained his pilot's license and enjoyed aerobatic flying. He served for four years as the newsletter editor for the Salt Lake chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association, for three years as the editor of the Starduster Magazine, the organ of the company that provides the materials for the home-built aerobatic airplane that he flew.

He authored seven books, and has written a number of papers on religion, philosophy, health and aviation safety. He was employed for a year as interim general manager of Horizon Publishers while it's owner was serving a mission in Mexico.

His last years were spent serving as "Gramps" on "askGramps.org", where he adopted thousands of people worldwide as his "grandchildren", assisting them through his wit, wisdom and sound advice. His exemplary life has influenced many people the world over and he will be deeply missed.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, June 24, 2008, at 2:00 PM at the Bountiful 31st Ward. Interment at Lakeview Memorial Park.