WOLKING, Charles Clay

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Tuesday, September 13, 2011 Charles Clay Wolking, son of Gene and Evelyn Wolking, was born July 5, 1950, in Shreveport, La. A loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and friend, he passed peacefully at home on Sept. 9, 2011, surrounded by family following a short illness. He was 61. As a child, Clay (as his friends always called him) moved around the U.S. because his father was career Navy. Upon his father's retirement from the Navy, the family settled in Montrose, Colo., in 1972. Clay attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., receiving his bachelor's degree in information systems in June 1972. It was during this time that he met Kathryn Ann Koliha. They married in June 1976 in Fort Collins and then made their home in Greeley, Colo. Clay worked for Monfort and its successor companies from 1976 until 2003. Clay and Kathy have two daughters, Lisa Katherine Farmer, wife of Cody, in Berthoud, Colo., and Karen Elaine Leavey, wife of Mike, in Greeley. Clay and Kathy became grandparents in March 2009, when Lisa and Cody presented them with their new grandson, Gavin Edward. In September 2004, Clay and Kathy moved to Arizona, where Clay took a position as office manager with Russell Investment Advisors in Prescott. He had a wonderful sense of humor, a quick wit, and a laugh that was infectious. Clay's many interests include family, music, travel, playing poker, sports and technology. Clay's parents, Gene and Evelyn, precede him in death, as does his older brother, Ken. In addition to Kathy and their daughters, Clay is survived by his sister Phyllis Ann Pias, wife of Bob, of Kenosha, Wis. He is also survived by a large number of nieces and nephews on both sides of the family. A celebration of Clay's life will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, at Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home on Cortez Street in Prescott. Contributions should be made to Hospice Family Care Foundation for Hospice Family Care, Inc, 100 E Sheldon St, #100, Prescott AZ 86301. Visit Clay's guestbook at www.ruffnerwakelin.com. Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home assisted the family with final arrangements. Information provided by survivors.