Farmington
Clay Ryan Holbrook was born on May 21, 1977, the oldest of three boys born to Kirk and Shelley Holbrook in Bountiful, Utah. His passing on January 30, 2023, has left an enormous void in our hearts.
Clay Holbrook has been a soccer enthusiast his entire life. At four years old, he began playing recreational league soccer and graduated to competitive play by the age of eight. Clay played for Woods Cross High School, winning the State Cup title his senior year. That same year his competition team went on to win second place in the Nation for his age group. Needless to say, Clay Holbrook is soccer.
Clay has three children—Abby, Hank, and Jed—who have all played soccer throughout their lives. Clay coached all three throughout their formative years, teaching them to play their best no matter which sport they were engaged in.
As his three children grew and progressed, other parents noticed that Clay had a unique ability to teach his children valuable life skills along with specific soccer skills, and they petitioned him to share his abilities. As more and more parents enthusiastically encouraged Clay to coach their children, he decided to sign up for coaching certification classes, making it official for him to coach according to the established structure of the Utah Youth Soccer Association League. After becoming certified, Clay not only helped coach his own kids’ teams but took on several additional teams. His coaching approach created a winning environment for kids to grow and progress and learn life and soccer skills along the way.
Clay had a regular full-time job at HF Sinclair, where he had been employed since 1995. He began his career at the Woods Cross Refinery, where he worked as a yard laborer, moving through several positions within operations, including Operations Training Supervisor, and finally as a Fired Heater Specialist for the corporate Mechanical Integrity group. Clay loved his Work family and spoke highly of the many cherished relationships he acquired over his 28 years working among them. Clay loved his full-time job almost as much as his real passion in life, which was coaching the kids he’d come to love on the soccer field. Driver by his love of the game and his big heart, Clay spent a significant share of his off-work time coaching and improving lives. Clay wasn’t a screamer or abusive in any way, but calmly and methodically taught and instructed those having the opportunity to work with him. He did what only Clay Holbrook could do: teach the game of soccer with grace and goodness.
Clay coached teams for La Roca, Forza, and finally helped with the formation and coaching of Metasport. Over the last few years, with encouragement from Andrea and his love of the boys he’d coached for years, he assisted with coaching the boys at Farmington High School, GO PHOENIX!
Clay is survived by his dear wife of 25 years, Andrea; daughter, Abby Hunter (Kody); sons, Hank Holbrook and Jed Holbrook; Granddaughter, Quinn Hunter; Grandson, Hudson Hunter; parents, Kirk & Shelley Holbrook; brothers, Flint & Tiffanee Holbrook, Andrew & Kami Holbrook; In-Laws, Dave & Julie White, Jason & Rachel White, Kent & Nichole Lewis, Michael & Kortney White, and numerous nephews and nieces.
And finally, he is survived by a multitude of people for whom Clay was “the best coach/friend ever.” That includes practically everyone he has ever met. Clay knew no strangers. He considered every person he came in contact with—whether on a conference call, soccer field, or walking on the street—as important, interesting, and worthy of his friendship and attention. And the driving force and theme of his life was love and service to others
Clay Holbrook, you will be missed!
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm, Monday, February 6, 2023 at the Farmington Bay Stake Center, 549 S. 1525 W. , Farmington. A viewing will be held Sunday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary & Crematory, 1941 North Main Street, Farmington, and again Monday morning 11:30-12:30 am at the church prior to services. Interment- Bountiful City Cemetery.
