Clayton "Clay" Douglas Wingate

Birth Date: August 20, 1965

Birth Location: Orange, Orange County, Texas

Marriage Date: August 5, 2000

Death Date: January 18, 2022

Death Location: Home, Spring, Harris County, Texas

Clayton "Clay" Douglas Wingate of Spring, Texas died on January 18, 2022 at his home, surrounded by his wife, daughter and family members. He succumbed to the cancer that was only recently discovered.

Clay was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil Francis Wingate and Dorothea June Woodside Wingate; and his brothers, Quentin Mitchell Wingate and Phillip Vaughn Wingate.

He is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Natalie Vo "Hong" Wingate, and his daughter, Lillian Brooke Wingate. Clay liked to say that when it comes to family, he "hit the jackpot" with the greatest loves of his life in his wife and daughter.

Clay is also survived by his siblings: Natalie West (Doyle), Andrew Wingate (Sheila), Susan Wingate (Larry Swiderski), Al Wingate (Deborah), Victoria Wingate, Sister Mary of Joseph (Linda) Wingate, Matthew Wingate, Mary Wingate (Joe Adreon), Cecilia Wingate, Julie Wingate Trapp (Chris), Barbara Holland (and Shanawn), Peter Wingate (Joy), Ethan Wingate (Carrie), Spencer Wingate (Jennifer), and Olivia Wingate (Walter Johnson).

Clay is also survived by more than 50 nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews who loved him dearly.

Clay was born on August 20, 1965 at Orange Memorial Hospital in Orange, Texas, and was baptized at St. Mary's Catholic Church. As a child in 1969, Clay was involved in an accident that caused traumatic injury to his head. Clay's life was saved due to the swift response by the nearby Claybar's Funeral Home in Orange, and Orange Memorial Hospital. Before being Life Flighted to Houston, Clay died three times and was revived each time. The neurosurgeon for young Clay called him "our little miracle child."

Clay attended St. Mary's Elementary School and Junior High School, as well as North Junior High School and West Orange Cove, and was a Boy Scout. He attended and graduated from West Orange Stark High School in 1984 where he was active in the National Forensics League club. Clay was very active in Junior Achievement, serving as club president of the WOS club sponsored by Gulf Chemical. He represented the Golden Triangle at the National Junior Achievers Conference in 1983.

Clay had various types of employment throughout his life, especially as a communications technician for AT&T in the Houston, Texas area.

In his young adult life, he struggled with challenges and frustrations related to his early childhood head injury. He openly shared his story of early dependence on alcohol. Clay found recovery with what he called "the God of his understanding" and the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. He was proud of his

strength and determination to be alcohol-free for over 25 years, and was often a speaker to share his story as encouragement to others.

Clay helped friends and neighbors with projects at their homes. This often was a surprise to his relatives because he never spoke about it. He took pleasure in being able to help others, and he felt no need to make his kind deeds known to others.

He was enthusiastic about politics, regularly sharing his conservative views on social media. He viewed it as a badge of honor to be put "in Facebook jail."

Clay's family and friends are invited to attend the visitation on Monday, January 24, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Edward's Catholic Church at 2601 Spring Stuebner Road, Spring, Texas 77389.

The visitation will be followed by a funeral Mass which will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at Klein Memorial Park and Mausoleum at 9714 FM 2920, Tomball, Texas 77375.

Family and friends are invited to return to the reception hall at St. Edward's Catholic Church for a luncheon and celebration of Clay Wingate's life.