Clayton Carl Carlson

Clayton (“Clay”) C. Carlson, 88, peacefully passed away into the arms of Jesus on the morning of December 14th, in the presence of his wife, Dory, and family.

He was born on August 15, 1937, in Escanaba, Michigan, to Carl E. and Cecelia (Broman) Carlson, and was raised on their family farm in Cornell. He attended Escanaba High School prior to serving in the U.S. Army in the spring of 1959. He was honorably discharged in 1961.

On January 9, 1965, he married the love of his life, Dorlene (“Dory”) Trenary. Together, they shared nearly 61 years of marriage. Clay and Dory enjoyed raising their four children, tending their family farm, working hard, and helping their neighbors.

Along with raising his family and farming, Clay held a variety of jobs, spending the majority of his career with Mead Paper, where he worked as a hydroelectric dam operator before retiring in 1995. Clay also served his community by volunteering with the Cornell Fire Department. Although Clay worked hard, he embraced life’s joys fully. He loved the outdoors—hunting, fishing, trapping, and farming—along with storytelling and spending time with his grandchildren.

Clay is survived by his wife, Dory; sisters Judy (Carlson) Derouin and Caroline (Carlson) Iverson; brother David “Babe” Carlson; children Tony (Cheryl) Carlson, Susan (Gary) Johnson, and Carla (Ron) Lauren; grandchildren Andrew (Denisha) Carlson, Collin Carlson, Jacob Carlson; Raquel (Johnson) Schon (Zach), Erin (Johnson) Becker (Daniel), Olivia Johnson, Clayton (Abigail) Johnson, Garrett Johnson, Layne Johnson; Kyle (Alexis) Broeders, Kevin (Sierra) Broeders, Katie Broeders, Kristin (Broeders) Collins (Jacob); Tori (Lauren) Zernicke (Zach), and Levi Lauren; along with 14 great-grandchildren.

Clay was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Cecelia; sister Juanita (Carlson) Thompson; brother Ronald Carlson; daughter Molly (Carlson) Broeders; grandson Benjamen Lauren; and many other loved ones.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday, December 19, 2025, at the Anderson Funeral Home in Escanaba. Funeral services celebrating the life of Clayton Carlson will be held at 4:00 p.m. Friday at the Anderson Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Bill Hill officiating. Following the service, please join the family for a meal at the Carlson Centennial Farm, 2836 Truax 24th Road, Cornell, Michigan. Burial will take place in the Forest Home Cemetery in Watson.

The family of Clay Carlson would like to thank OSF Hospice, Anderson Funeral Home, Pastor Bill Hill, and all of our friends and family who have visited, shared stories, supported, and loved Clay.

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