Alexander Clayton “Clay” Houston

Houston, Clay at the Hoods' bookstore in Lawrence -  CopyAlexander Clayton “Clay” Houston, 86, Lawrence, died peacefully July 18th, 2015, at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor. He was surrounded by his loving family.

He was born December 1st, 1928 in Wichita, Kansas, the son of Guy Robert Houston and Helen Porter Houston. Clay graduated from the Chadwick Seaside School in California and then attended Stanford University, where he received his BA degree in Economics. He later attended graduate school at Fort Hays State University where he studied Zoology.

He married Susanne Holyoke Elwood in Stanford Chapel on the day of their graduation, June 19th, 1950.

Mr. Houston served his country as Private First Class in the U.S. Army, stationed in Hawaii at the end of the Korean War.

He moved to Hays, Kansas in 1956 to raise his family and manage the A.C. Houston Lumber Companies in the towns of Hays, Russell, Claflin, and Bushton.

Clay then retired to live on property in the countryside near Baldwin City, where he and his wife enjoyed gardening and caring for a large assortment of animals for many years.

They later moved to Lawrence, after which he began a second career as a book dealer, first working for J. Hood Booksellers, and then eventually self-employed under the name of AC Houston Bookman.

Survivors include his wife, Susanne Elwood Houston of Lawrence; daughter, Laura Houston Weaver and son-in law Edward John Weaver of London ON, Canada; son, Peter Clayton Houston and daughter-in-law Dr. Mary Eleanor Morningstar of Lawrence; grandchildren, Clayton Edward Weaver and Anne Holyoke Weaver of London ON, Canada, Alexander Clayton Houston, Eleanor Morningstar Houston, and Mariah Holyoke Houston of Lawrence; sister, Anne Houston Kappelman of Vashon, WA.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Lawrence Public Library or the Lawrence Humane Society, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory, 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.