Michael H. Clayton MD

Beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, Michael H. Clayton, M. D., long-time Albuquerque physician, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday morning at the age of 64 while out jogging with his dog, Slim. Mike was born in Ft. Sill, OK on May 29, 1951, lived in Crowell, TX, and then moved to Albuquerque in 1959 at the age of 8. He went on to graduate from Manzano High School in 1969 where he was on the football team and participated in Boys State and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He attended UNM where he met his future wife, Christine Campbell. They both graduated in 1973, worked at Lovelace Foundation, and married in 1976. In 1978, he graduated from UCLA with a Master's Degree in Public Health. Later that year, he entered medical school at UNM, his goal for many years. He received his medical degree in 1982. He completed a pediatric residency at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC in 1985 and entered the Indian Health Service. He served two years in remote Bethel, Alaska as one of two pediatricians. His son, Nicholas was born in Anchorage in 1986. Mike then served four years at the Gallup Indian Medical Center where he was the chairman of the Pediatrics Department for three of those years. He received an HHS Outstanding Service Award for his tenure there. He decided to pursue a fellowship in Allergy and Immunology and did that at National Jewish Center in Denver, CO. His daughter, Allison was born in Denver in 1991. With family and training complete, he and Christine returned home to Albuquerque in 1993. He started his career here in a local private practice, worked at UNM in the Department of Pulmonology, and finally opened his own private allergy practice in 2000. In addition to this practice, he also worked part-time at UNM in Pediatric Immunology for the past several months. On a national level, he served the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology as a governor representing the western regional, state, and local allergy/immunology societies. He received the Leadership Award from the RSLAAIS in 2014 for his service to these communities as leader, mentor, advocate, and educator. He was honored to serve on the AAAAI Board of Directors for four years from 2010 to 2014. He is survived by his wife of almost 40 years, Christine Campbell Clayton; son, Nicholas Clayton; and daughter, Allison Clayton, all of Albuquerque. He is also survived by his brother, Philip Clayton and his wife, Davra of Cedar Crest, their daughter, Anna Martin, her husband, Grant, and sons Jacob and Caleb of Medford, MA; and by his sister, Jalynn Clayton, her husband Todd Heisey, and sons,Thane and Trevin of Albuquerque. He was preceded in death by his parents, Doyle Clayton and Noveline Williams Clayton, and young sisters, Jana Doyle, Pamella Lou, and Christy Lynn. Mike was devoted to his family, his friends, his patients, and his profession. He brought compassion, optimism, energy, and a sense of humor to everything he touched. He was an avid sportsman who enjoyed hunting, fly fishing, riding his motorcycle, camping, hiking, and even birding with Christine; any excuse to get outdoors and enjoy being there. He loved reading, cooking, roasting his own coffee beans, wood working, guitar, teaching himself to play the banjo---you name it, he was always interested in trying something new. He was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church and also served that community with joy and dedication. He lived a full life, balancing a love and devotion to those who needed and depended on him with his avid pursuit of the next interesting challenge. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. We have lost a wealth of experience and knowledge; a companion; a teacher; a mentor; a truly joyful heart. If you would like to make a memorial contribution, please consider UNM Children's Hospital, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, or any charity of your choice. Memorial Service will be Saturday, December 5, 2015, 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 9500 Constitution Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112.