Cyrus served in the armed forces. We honor that service here.
Life story
Cyrus Budge Clay, 95 of Rexburg, died Monday April 28, 2014 at his home.
He was born August 31, 1918 in Idaho Falls, to Hawley Everett Clay and Myrtle Alice Dale Clay. Budge was raised in the farming communities of Archer, Rexburg and Sunnydell. When he was 10 the family moved to Mesa, Arizona then to Casa Grande, Arizona before returning to Idaho. He graduated as Valedictorian from 8th grade at Sunnydell, and then graduated from high school in Rexburg. He continued his education at University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho.
Budge was called to serve in the British Mission for LDS Church in 1939. Due to the attack of Hitler, the missionaries returned to America and Budge finished his mission in the West Florida Southern States Mission.
On December 17, 1941, he married Ruth Cook; they had 4 children, Blair, Sherry, Ronda, and Kelly. Ruth preceded him in death. In the fall of 1943 Budge was inducted into the Army Air Force; after basic training he graduated from Gunnery and was assigned as Lower Ball Gunnery Instructor in Kingman, Arizona. Later, he was assigned to Harlingen Air Force Base for B29 training. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
Throughout his life Budge farmed in Archer, helped construct the Palisades Dam, worked as a Surveyor for Lassen National Forest in California, was a Field Man for Tehama Count, ASCS then worked as a Field Man for State Farm Labor Service in Bakersfield and Delano, California; when he returned to Idaho in 1966 he worked as a welder in metal construction. He worked for Wilcox Potato and then as a State Potato Inspector for Dayton Grover. He also worked in the logging industry with Earl Wilcox until he retired.
Budge married Lois Byrne on July 29, 1967; they had 2 children, Michelle and Kevin. Their marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on September 14, 1995.
Budge was a member of LDS Church; he was known as a hard worker and was an avid fisherman. He loved being in the mountains logging, huckleberry picking, camping and picnicking with his family.
He is survived by his wife Lois Byrne Clay of Rexburg, daughters; Ronda Rasmussen, of Idaho Falls, Sherry (Richard),Michelle (Gary) Hamlin, of Vancouver, Washington, sons; Blair (Delpha) Clay of Sugar City, Kevin (Suzette) Clay, of Rexburg, sister; Enid Burgner, of Idaho Falls, 20 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son; Kelly Neil Clay, sister; Maggie Diane Azuelo, brother; Dale T. Clay and Nephew; Terry Burgerner.
I remember Grandpa always placing me on his knee and bouncing me up and down while singing a song. Grandpa always had the best stories and jokes to share. One of the things I remember he saying is, “do you know how to spell Mississippi? M-I-crooked letter-crooked letter-I-crooked letter- crooked letter- I- humpback-humpback-I.” That and rattlesnake. In which he would say “R-A-tittle-tattle-S-N-ake.” When I got a little bit older I remember being in school and having to write Mississippi for an assignment. I would use his silly little tune to remember how to spell it.
me and my grandpa couldn’t have a really close relationship since he died when i was young, it brings me peace to think that one day i will see him again and have that relationship i always wanted.
