Clayton Burnham

Clayton Burnham (Arthur Clayton Burnham, Jr.) died on April 12, 2008. Nancy, Laura and I went to the calling hours yesterday. Bill, Donna, Jason, Pager and I went to the funeral today. (Nancy and Laura are out of town today for a college visit. Beth and Jerry are away on vacation.)

Clayton was the second husband of my aunt, Harriet (Gould) (Karr) Burnham. Harriet and my mother, Lois (Gould) Putnam (d. 1999), were sisters.

Clayton was born in Connecticut in 1919. He married Frances May Flanders of Johnson in 1943, and lived most of his life in Jericho. My recollection is that Frances and Harriet's first husband, Quentin ("Red") Karr, Sr., died on the same day. Harriet and Clayton did not know each other at the time. None of us on this side of the family knew Clayton at the time. But Harriet and Clayton had mutual friends who knew that they were both lonely, and who introduced them to each other. Clayton and Harriet married in 1994, and they had many happy years together.

Clayton was a wonderful man. He was kind and quiet, with a great sense of humor. I remember that he always had a twinkle in his eye. He never complained, even when he had health problems late in life. He was loved by everyone who knew him, and he will be missed.

Harriet and all four of her children (Kareen, Linda, Mary Jean and Quent) were at the funeral, as well as Clayton's only child (Eric). I caught up with relatives and friends that I haven't seen in a long time, and made new friends. It is sad that it takes a funeral to do so.

Kareen's husband, Rev. Jim Perry, performed the funeral service today.

For reference, the obituary is in the Burlington Free Press on 4/16/08. (Searching the online obituaries is easier if you know the name and date of publication.)