Clayton “Clay” York died peacefully in Prescott, Ariz. on March 18 after a valiant two-year battle with lung cancer, his loving wife Kitty at his side. He was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Malibu and Santa Monica, attending Webster Elementary School, Lincoln Jr. High, Santa Monica High School and the Army Navy Academy. Clayton was a member of the first Bar Mitzvah class of the then, newly established Malibu Jewish Center & Synagogue. He later resided in Los Angeles and in Japan before relocating to Prescott in 2008 and establishing his home there with his wife and their daughter Ahnika.
Clay, a “Gear-Head” from birth, loved everything automotive, establishing first RedSpot Graphics, an automotive sticker and signage company, and later, with his wife Kitty, AutoLink Motorworks, a successful automotive aftermarket business. In Yokohama Japan, he co-founded Check Shop, an auto shop. In Prescott, he was employed by Legend Aviation and at Adventure Trailers.
He was a perfectionist and highly creative man of diverse interests and skills, among them music, art and gun collecting. He was also a builder/designer of racecars and overland camping vehicles and loved his Triumph motorcycles. However, his greatest talent was his ability to establish warm and fulfilling life-long friendships, based on his genuine concern for others, his loyalty and his generous spirit. Whether a family member, a classmate, co-worker, employer or employee, neighbor, colleague, fellow collector, friend of a friend or casual acquaintance, his ability to make and nurture relationships was unlimited and was rewarded in the loving support provided by innumerable friends and his large extended family in good times and during his illness.
Clayton is survived by his wife Kitty (nee Chan), daughter Ahnika Rose, his parents Arnold and Karen York, publishers of The Malibu Times; his brother Anthony York, sister-in-law Andrea and their children Lana Lacey and Griffin York of Sacramento; brother Mark Brown and his wife Shelley; his mother-in-law, Winnie Chan; sister- and brother-in-law Sharlene and David Louie, their children Dylan and Devin Louie and Clay’s large extended family.
The York/Chan families will be hosting a memorial service at the Malibu Jewish Center & Synagogue on March 29 from 11-2 in Malibu. A celebration of Clay’s life took place at The Club at Prescott Lakes on March 22.
Clay wished to be remembered with donations to the American Cancer Society, The Malibu Dolphin Charitable Foundation, the Malibu Jewish Center & Synagogue or to a charity of your choice.