Clayton L. Cook passed away peacefully surrounded by family and loved ones on Aug. 4, in St. George, Utah. He was a beloved son, brother, father and friend to many.
Clayton was born on April 11, 1966, to Noel and ReNae Cook in Centerville, Utah.
He was the middle child of 6 siblings, Scott (Stefanie), Kendell (Debbie), Paul (Janelle), Doug (Trisha), James (Shannon) and Carolyn. Clayton spent his childhood and young adult life in Heber City, Utah, where he learned the value of hard work, discipline, and the most important – how to have fun! He enjoyed many summers at his family cabin in Bear Lake, where he developed his love for skiing, boating and spending quality time with his family.
He attended Wasatch High School where his natural athletic and competitive spirit shined in football and track, earning many awards, nominations and school records that still hold to this day. He recounted his days at Wasatch High School as “some of the best days of his life.” While attending Wasatch High School he was recruited by multiple universities from across the nation, who saw his natural talent, including Notre Dame, USC, University of Utah, Arizona State, BYU and multiple handwritten letters from LaVelle Edwards asking him to come and play for him.
However, Clayton sacrificed his football career and chose to serve an LDS mission. He was called to the Scotland Edinburgh Mission where he served diligently for two years. He had always dreamed of going back there someday and loved his time spent there.
Upon returning from his mission, Clayton went on to play football for Dixie College, while also helping run the family business: Tri-Valley Distributing. Together their family quickly turned Tri-Valley into one of the largest oil distributors in the Western United States. The Cook family was the epitome of a family business, something that Clayton always took great pride in.
While attending Dixie College, he married Mary Hansen. Through their marriage, they had three boys Dillon (Lexi), Devin (Sarah) and Koby. Together, they built a prosperous life before choosing to go in different directions in 2019. Clayton loved his three boys and worked hard his entire life to shape them into phenomenal young men.
Clayton took great pride in the lessons he learned from his father, and constantly showed his sons the value of taking care of others, helping others get back on their feet, and most importantly – always being honest, no matter how hard that might be.
He was blessed with two grandsons and one granddaughter on the way. They quickly became his best friends and the “loves” of his life. His favorite title was,“Grandpa.” They enjoyed multiple FaceTimes daily, rides in the truck, visits to family and friends, but most importantly, their weekly date to Paula’s Mexican Restaurant where the staff all knew him and his grandsons by name; even giving them their own booth. Eating chips and salsa with his grandsons quickly became his favorite memory. He often said his grandkids were the reason life was worth living.
If he wasn’t spending time with his grandkids, you could always find him at his home in Pine Valley, Utah- – his own little heaven on Earth. He enjoyed living life at the cabin, puttering around his porch, and making sure his flowers were always in bloom. The front porch was his favorite spot, where he could look over the valley spending his days watching the sunrise and sunset while listening to his favorite music.
We will miss Clayton tremendously, but are grateful for the lessons of life we learned from him, and what he stood for. Those will be carried on for many generations to come.
We would like to thank his brother Kendell, for the countless hours he spent with Clayton visiting, grocery shopping, driving to and from Pine Valley, making doctors appointments, and of course — comic relief. He gave so unselfishly, up until Clayton’s last breath. We would also like to thank the doctors and nurses at Intermountain Healthcare – specifically Dr. Gayle Wong, who went above and beyond the call of duty, as well as his nurses, Lucas and Chelsey, for the outstanding healthcare he received until his passing. Because of them, we were able to have more time with our father, and for that we are eternally grateful.
Funeral services will be held privately with his family.