Obituaries

On December 10, 2013 Anna Gaylene Clayson Vincent returned to her Heavenly Father. She was born April 17, 1929, in Alameda, California to William and Gladys Clayson. Gaylene married Lawrence A. Vincent on February 17, 1954, in Salt Lake City. Her greatest love in life was her family and spending time with them. Gaylene is survived by her Husband, Larry; Brothers, Harold (Gladys) and Kendall (Sharon) Clayson; Children, Kerry Thomas (David), Leisa Jarman (Craig), Jay Vincent (DeAnn); 13 Grandchildren and 7 Great Grandchildren.

A Funeral Service will be held for Gaylene on Monday, December 16, 11am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Centerville Ward), 38134 Temple Way, Fremont, CA 94536. A Committal Service will be held on Tuesday, December 17, 11am at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Rd., Dixon, CA 95620.

Anna Gaylene Clayson Vincent History

I was born of goodly parents in Alameda, CA, on April 17, 1929. My parents are Gladys Toman and William Nathan Clayson. My brother, 14 months older than me is Harold. Nine years later Kendall came into the world. We lived in Alameda all of our growing up years. We enjoyed our childhood with Aunts, Uncles, and cousins, celebrating all holidays together.

Harold and I went to Lincoln School K thru 8 and Alameda High Freshman thru Senior. Kendall went to Porter and Alameda High.

My first job was as an usherette in the Vogue Theatre, second job was as a sales person in lingerie at Capwells in Oakland. When I graduated from high school I went to work for the American Trust Co. on Webster Street in Alameda, which later became Wells Fargo. I was a little chicken-livered, or milk-toast, as Mom used to call it, but I always forced myself to succeed and do things. I was head bookkeeper for 5 years and worked at the bank 8 years. I left the bank after the birth of Kerry, but returned after one year and worked until Larry was out of school and Leisa was born.

My first church calling was a Sunday School Secretary. I also wrote a column for Alameda Ward, in the Church Messenger. Later I was Stake Golden Gleaner Vice President, Fireside Officer, etc. When I was 21, I was called as a Stake Missionary, much to my fear and trembling, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. I had to study and learn how to teach the Gospel. I read the Book of Mormon for the first time. What an eye opener and testimony builder. I also read A Marvelous Work and A Wonder and The Article of Faith by Talmadge. The missionary experience and the books sealed my testimony for life. I also stopped worrying whom I would marry and that’s when the love of my life came in to my life.

Lawrence Alvin Vincent, Jr., was born in Salt Lake City, June 18, 1932, to Gerradina Johanna Elzinga and Lawrence Alvin Vincent. He had a half-sister, Ellen, a brother, Isaac, and sister, Mary, that both died in infancy. He also had a brother, Gerald, sister, Gerradina (Gerri), and a brother, Henry, who died at birth. He lived in a few places around Salt Lake, but mostly at 5th East and 33rd South. He graduated from Granite High School. He helped his dad who worked in a Chicken Slaughter House and at one time was a Western Union Delivery Boy, riding a bike for deliveries.

His family was not always active in the LDS church, but he became active at age 13. He wanted to go on a mission, but the Bishop made the decision not to call him because of financial reasons. Therefore, he joined the Navy in 1950. He trained at San Diego Naval Air Station and was sent to Alameda Naval Air Station, his home port. While there he attended Alameda Ward and went on two tours of duty on two different ships. The first was the Valley Forge. I had seen him at church but he says we officially met on a street corner in Oakland. I was out with a date I had met through my cousin Joyce. I tried to introduce my date to Larry as he was on his way home from a Church dance with a bunch of girls I knew. Larry and my date started laughing because they were in the same Navy Group though I did not know it.

We became good friends. I eventually broke up with that date after some trauma. Larry and I always ended up together at young people’s activities. He was a Group Leader at the Station and my missionary companion played the organ at the meetings. The missionary companion fell in love and married the other Group Leader. I thought Larry was one of the greatest scriptorians I had ever met. When our young people went anywhere and Larry was not there they would always say to me, “Larry says good night.” We had a great summer of 1953, double dating with a gal who was rooming at my house for the summer and working at Shell Development in Emeryville with my brother Harold.

I had a four door Plymouth, which I had bought from my Auntie Lue and Uncle Hank for $100. I had it painted light blue and called it the blue jewel in honor of the Plymouth Coupe, a stick shift, my exboyfriend had taught me to drive.

At the end of summer Harold and our boarder went back to BYU and Larry left for 3 months to Philadelphia with the Navy. I felt like the old maid of Alameda Ward. I told my mom if Larry did not ask me to marry him I would go to BYU too. I would not have though. After concentrated letter writing again, in October 1953 I received a call at the bank asking if I was the Bookie? It turned out to be Larry asking for a date. That night we went to the Historic Paramount Theater in Oakland and saw The Robe. After the movie we were sitting in the front seat of the Blue Jewel and he asked me to marry him. I never said yes, we just started making plans. His intention was to marry after his tour of duty on “The Philippine Seas”, but I suggested we marry first to receive his allotment checks to help pay for a car and my diamond ring.

We had $300 between us when we started out. So in February, 1954, we drove to Salt Lake City in our (new to us) 1951 four door Chevrolet. Mom, Dad, and Kendall went with us. We stayed at Aunt Mabel and Uncle Lester’s home in Salt Lake. I met his family for the first time. His Dad seemed kind of gruff at first; he was twelve years older than his mom. She was a really nice person and I felt comfortable around them.

We were married February 17, 1954, a Wednesday, in the Salt Lake Temple. Harold and his childhood buddy, Jerry Crandall, were our witnesses. We stayed at the old Hotel Utah, 8th floor business suite. The next day, we drove to Logan and went to the Temple. Uncle Wallace called ahead and we were made the Witness Couple. I was petrified, but it was a good experience.

I continued to work at the Bank, live at home, and finish my Stake Mission while he was on his second Tour of Duty. He came home in October, 1954, and we moved into an upstairs, one bedroom Government Housing apartment. Larry received an Honorable Discharge from the Navy in February, 1955. On October 14th, our first child, Kerry Lynn, was born. Larry started at Golden Gate Business College in San Francisco and worked part time jobs using his GI Bill for school. After about one year I went back to work at the Bank until Leisa Gay came along four years later on March 17th. We had moved to another Government Housing Unit, a two bedroom, downstairs apartment. My mom and my cousin, Joyce, did a lot of babysitting for Kerry while I worked.

When Kerry was about 8 months old, I became ill and lost a lot of blood and had my first of six major surgeries. I had internal bleeding episodes off and on for 10 years. Following Leisa’s birth I had Kidney Stones for another 10 years and a few more operations. After Jay, I had other health problems. Later I had a hysterectomy, gall stone surgery, and back surgery.

We bought a new Sundale home in Fremont, where Harold and Gladys and Wally and Nyle had moved. We moved in June of 1960. Three years later, on April 6th our son Jay Lawrence was born making our family of 5 complete. Living in Fremont and the separation from Mom was difficult since, in those days, we could not phone so freely. It was a partial separation that helped prepare me for her loss in March of 1964 after nine months of acute Leukemia.

In March of 1969, we moved across town to a 4 bedroom home with a family room and a dining room. It was a fixer upper and we worked on the house until we moved in 2007 to our current home at 4147 Corrigan Drive.

I worked a few part time jobs as the children grew up. I mostly did office work. I worked demonstrating Berkeley Farms Products, a tax company for two seasons, a stationary supply company, a couple of trucking companies, and Deseret Industries. Our local Ohlone Jr. College, was close by and I took business machines and electric typing in the early 70’s. In the early 80’s, I felt the need to learn computers so I studied typewriters with memory and WANG. With all my pittance paying positions I received a nice social security check since 1992. We have always managed financially and paid our tithing. The one year we did not pay our tithing was the worst of our married lives.

We have always been active in church and callings. I seem to keep church a very long time. I served 5 years as Stake Beekeeper, Relief Society Secretary, and Home Making Leader twice. I was a Den Mother for 2 years, 10 years in the Church Ward and Stake Library, and served another Stake Mission from 1990 to 1992 as a Family History Director. We were called to work in the Oakland Temple January 2000, a very nice way to start the new Millennium. I never expect to do such a thing at this point in time let alone memorize the words to the ordinances, but it has proved to be a great blessing. During that time I was also an officer in the Mission Peak Daughter of the Utah Pioneers for 5 years. I serve as a Board of Membership Chairman at the Museum of Local History in Fremont. I have enjoyed 5 years of Senior Tap Dancing Classes, performing once, which was more than enough for me. I have taken Piano lessons since 1992, but my talent lies mostly in appreciation of music and playing for myself. In 1973, when Kerry first left for BYU I began journaling which I have continued doing. I have enjoyed collecting stories and histories of my ancestors and sharing them with my family. I write poetry and have written many programs for church functions. I collect dolls and swans and love entertainment, TV, Theater, Musicals, and Reading when I have time. I am a self-confessed pack rat and need to do some serious cleaning out and organizing.

When my children left home we decided to take on boarders in our home. We helped many people enjoy a home away from home while in school, working or visiting from foreign countries. Some we unofficially adopted into our family and still keep in touch with them. I also had the honor of helping many elderly women with their day to day needs and became dear friends with them.

In 2004 we celebrated out 50th anniversary with our children, their spouses, and our 13 grandchildren. I always loved a party and this was my favorite. This coming February, will mark their 60th wedding anniversary.

(Additions from Kerry and Leisa)

They enjoyed many family reunions, cousin reunions, weddings, graduations, baptisms, mission farewells, baby blessings, cruises and trips with family and friends. They were always very active and involved in the church and community as well. Then in September 2005, dad suffered a stroke while working at the temple. Mom had to learn many new skills again to care for him and their home. She always had a strong Faith that God was going to take care of them. In 2007, with many prayers and encouragement from her children, she took steps to move them to their current home across from Leisa and Craig’s family, which has been a huge blessing in their lives.

February 2013 brought her biggest challenge. A collapsed lung turned into exploratory surgery of the abdomen and many complications followed. She had a strong fighting spirit and refused to give up, even after 3 months of hospitalization. Eventually, we brought her home in May, where she was able to stay until her passing on the 10th. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Leisa and Craig for their continued and loving care of Mom and Dad this last year.

She had a strong testimony of the Gospel, she loved the Lord and was honored to serve in his church. She loved her family of 3 children, 13 Grandchildren, and 7 Great Grandchildren with many more to come, and she always wanted to share in their lives. We will miss Her.