| Home Surname List Name Index Sources Email Us | Sixth Generation253. DeVere Robert CLAY was born on 15 January 1939 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.76,99,213 He died on 11 October 2007 at the age of 68 in Madison, Dane County, WI.99,306 Obituary Notes: "DeVere Robert Clay, age 68, of Tomah, WI, passed away on Friday, Oct. 12, 2007, in Madison, WI, as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. He was born on Jan. 15, 1939, to Robert and Genevieve (Shutter) Clay in the Town of Greenfield. He served in the United States Army. He was united in marriage to Barbara Jean Draeger on Aug. 30, 1969, in Waukon, Iowa. DeVere spent his working career as a farmer and was dedicated to the draft horse industry. He was a member of the Clydesdale Breeders USA and the Polled Hereford Association. DeVere’s number one passion was educating people in the draft horse business. There was nothing DeVere and Barb enjoyed more than showing their draft horses other than spending time with their children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed playing cards with friends, and gardening. He is survived by his first wife, Donna Meltesen of Tomah, and their children, Darcy (Sue) Clay of Warrens, Dawn (David) McInnis of Fall Creek, Dari (Junior) Bell of Wilton and Darin Clay of Madison; he then married Barbara Draeger and is survived by their children, Tina (Doug) Miller of Tomah, Karina Clay of Tomah and Corey (Kris Richards) Clay of Tomah; 21 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; a brother, DeWell (Cindy) Clay of Wausau; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Special mention, the extended draft horse family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Gen Clay; and a grandson, Robert Briney; and was accompanied in death by his wife Barbara and granddaughters Hope and Erin Briney. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, at 12:30 p.m. in the St. Mary’s Catholic School gymnasium. Pastor Edwin Stigen, Pastor Mark Benning and The Very Rev. Steven J. Kachel officiated. Burial was in the LaGrange Cemetery, Tomah. Family and friends called on Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah and on Wednesday from 11 a.m. until the time of service in the St. Mary’s School gymnasium." Newspaper Article: "MADISON (AP) -- DeVere Clay and his relatives usually stayed in the barn next to their prized Clydesdale horses before a big show. But on Thursday, concerned that the barn wouldn't be warm enough with temperatures dipping into the low 40s, Clay, his wife and two grandchildren instead decided to sleep in the trailer they used to haul the horses to the World Clydesdale Show. All four died sometime overnight, apparent victims of carbon monoxide poisoning, Dane County Coroner John Stanley said Friday. Stanley said the poisonous gas came from a small gas heater used in the trailer, parked alongside dozens of others just north of the Alliant Energy Center, which was hosting the show and more than 500 competing horses. News of the deaths shocked the tight-knit Clydesdale community at the show, the first time a world competition has been staged in the United States in more than 100 years. Calvin Larson spoke with DeVere Clay on Thursday night. Larson, who operates Larson's Clydesdales out of Ripon, said Clay told him they were going to sleep in the trailer to stay warm, even though they normally stay in the barn. The trailer was roughly 20 feet long and hitched to a pickup truck. Sleeping in horse trailers during competitions isn't uncommon, said Maureen Castagnasso, who, along with her husband, Tony, operate Meadowview Clydesdales in Kalamazoo, Mich. "We've all been here, we've all done that," said Tony Castagnasso, who knew the family for more than 30 years. "We've all been at risk at one point or another." Families like to be near the horses and often stay on the grounds, like the Clays, or in the stables in case something goes wrong with the animals during the night, Maureen Castagnasso said. Owners and operators of Clay's Clydesdales in Tomah, the Clays have been raising Clydesdale draft horses since 1972 and were well-known. According to the family's Web site, DeVere Clay is the fourth generation in his family to have Clydesdales. The family traveled to horse shows across Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota, the Web site said. Two men at the stable where the family's horses were being kept at the Madison show declined to comment Friday. "It's a terrible, terrible tragedy," Maureen Castagnasso said. Don Langille, with the Clydesdale Breeders of the U.S.A., said the Clays were well-liked. "The majority of exhibitors will be saddened because they know everybody here, everybody grieves and they all grieve together," he said. "If you needed anything, they were always there to help you," Tony Castagnasso said. The four were discovered by other family member s who came to wake them on Friday morning around 7:30 a.m., just as the horse show was starting. In addition to DeVere, 68, and his wife Barbara, 57, also killed were their grandchildren Erin Briney, 10, and Hope Briney, 13. There was "no indication of foul play," said Scott Gregory, town of Madison police chief. Police released a statement later Friday that said the propane heater was so old they could not detect the make or model. The trailer was not equipped with a heater. The coroner said preliminary tests showed a high concentration of carbon monoxide in the blood of all four victims. While one small vent in the roof was open, carbon monoxide gas does not rise so having that open was of no benefit, said town of Madison Fire Chief Dave Bloom." . DeVere Robert CLAY and Barbara Jean "Barb" DRAEGER were married on 30 August 1969 in Waukon, Allamakee County, IA.99,147,295 Barbara Jean "Barb" DRAEGER, daughter of William Clarence DRAEGER and Leona Barbara DECHANT, was born on 17 September 1950 in Galesville, Trempealeau County, WI.99,306 She died on 11 October 2007 at the age of 57 in Madison, Dane County, WI.99,306 Obituary Notes: "Barbara Jean (Draeger) Clay, age 57, of Tomah passed away on Friday, Oct. 12, 2007, in Madison as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. She was born on Sept. 17, 1950, in Galesville to William and Leona (Dechant) Draeger. She was united in marriage to DeVere Robert Clay in August of 1969 in Waukon, Iowa. Barb was employed at Fort McCoy with the Department of Defense. She was a member of the Clydesdale Breeders of USA and the Polled Hereford Association Union Steward. Barb was also a Green Bay Packer fanatic, she enjoyed playing cards with her friends and was also an active internet user and created, designed and up kept her own web page. She especially loved going shopping with her mom, Leona. There was nothing DeVere and Barb enjoyed more than showing their draft horses other than spending time with their children and grandchildren. She is survived by her parents, William and Leona Draeger; her children, Tina (Doug) Miller, Karina Clay and Corey (Kris Richards) Clay, all of Tomah; stepchildren, Darcy (Sue) Clay of Warrens, Dawn (David) McInnis of Fall Creek, Dari (Junior) Bell of Wilton and Darin Clay of Madison; 21 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; a sister, Mary (David) Reardon of Mosinee, and two brothers, William (Rosemary) Draeger and Daniel (Julie) Draeger, all of Tomah; aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and other relatives. Special mention, the extended draft horse family. She was preceded in death by an infant sister, Elizabeth; a grandson, Robert Briney, and accompanied in death by her husband DeVere and granddaughters Hope and Erin Briney. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 12:30 p.m. in the St. Mary’s Catholic School gymnasium. Pastor Edwin Stigen, Pastor Mark Benning and The Very Rev. Steven J. Kachel officiated. Burial followed in the LaGrange Cemetery, Tomah. Family and friends called on Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah and on Wednesday from 11 a.m. until the time of service in the St. Mary’s gymnasium." DeVere Robert CLAY and Barbara Jean "Barb" DRAEGER had the following children:
DeVere Robert CLAY and Donna DICKINSON (`) (~) were married on 3 October 1959.153,279 They153,279 were divorced before August 1969.99 Donna DICKINSON (`) (~), daughter of Laurel Foss DICKINSON and Edna Frances WOOMBILL, was born on 13 January 1941.82,153 DeVere Robert CLAY and Donna DICKINSON (`) (~) had the following children:
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