Henry Clay Fleck

Henry Clay Fleck June 25, 1915 - June 19, 2010 Clay was born June 25, 1915 at the Fleck Ranch on the East side of Scott Valley to Henry Anton and Rosetta May Hile Fleck. He attended Etna schools, graduating in 1932. After graduation he continued to help work on the ranch and for the U.S. Forest Service in the Trinity Alps and the high mountain meadows. During the winter months Clay skied first-class mail from Etna to Sawyers Bar, as the roads weren’t open to traffic. When not working for the Forest Service he worked at the saw mills in Mt. Shasta. In early 1942 he worked for the Keiser Shipyards as a welder in San Francisco. In November 1942, Clay enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp. While stationed at Wright-Patterson Field in Ohio he met the love of his life at a USO dance. He married Barbara June Reid on December 22, 1945 shortly before his discharge from the service. After his discharge he and June moved back to Etna where he established a timber-falling company with his older brother, Carlos and cousin, Ariel Facey. In the winter months, Clay worked as a carpenter, building homes throughout Scott Valley. They were also called upon to build log bridges during the 1955 and 1964 floods throughout Siskiyou County, including McCloud and Somes Bar. They also fought forest fires. In 1972 Clay applied for and received his general contracting license and began setting mobile and modular homes. In 1976 he went to work for Etna Union High School as the Maintenance Supervisor. In 1988, he finally retired, at the age of 73. Clay was an exceptional athlete, playing high school baseball, basketball, tennis and track. He also liked to play polo. After high school graduation he played baseball for the Etna, Yreka and Mt. Shasta town teams as a catcher. Later he played and coached the Etna Basketball town team. Clay was very involved with his children. He was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader for several years and helped establish Little League baseball in Scott Valley, coaching the Etna Braves. From Little League he went on to coach the Etna Colts Babe Ruth baseball team. He also umpired Etna High School baseball and refereed high school basketball games. Both Clay and June were excellent dancers and belonged to several dance clubs. They rarely missed a dance at the Etna, Ft. Jones or Callahan dance halls. Clay served as the Secretary/Treasurer for the Etna Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years and served on the Etna City Council for 12 years. He was inducted into the Scott Valley Youth Baseball & Softball Hall of Fame this year. Clay also received the Etna High School PTA Volunteer of the Year Award in 1963/64 and was one of the first inductees into the Scott Valley Sports Hall of Fame. Both Clay and June volunteered for Hospice of Yuma and received the coveted Angel Award for their service to the organization. Clay loved the outdoors and enjoyed taking his family hunting, fishing and camping. While his children were growing up, many weekends during the summer were spent boating on Lake Shasta. At the age of 84 he even enjoyed riding a jet ski. After his retirement Clay and June liked to travel to the Carolinas, Hawaii, Tennessee and Virginia. For several years they spent their winters in Yuma, Arizona. Clay’s wife, June, preceded him in death on October 10, 2008. He leaves behind his three children, Sharon Chessum (James), Gary (Lorraine) and Dennis (Darlene), as well as ten grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. He also leaves behind his brother Fred. Clay was a mentor to his children, grandchildren and many others in the community and will be fondly remembered. The family wishes to thank Madrone Hospice for their compassionate care during his final days. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, June 26, 2010 at the United Methodist Church at 137 Diggles Road in Etna, CA at 10:30 am with a burial following at the Etna Cemetery. A reception will follow at the family home in Etna. In lieu of flowers please make contributions to Madrone Hospice, 255 Collier Circle, Yreka, CA 96097 or your charity of choice.