Eugenia Clayton

Eugenia “Genie” Clayton, age 75, passed away on Saturday, May 21, 2022 in Tacoma, WA. She is survived by her brother, Andrew Bloom, daughters Rebecca Hornbuckle and Nellie Kopf, sons Jesse Hornbuckle and Jacob Hornbuckle, and twelve grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Lester Clayton, brother Richard Bloom and granddaughter Rachel Hornbuckle. Genie was born October 16, 1947 in Seattle, WA to parents Andrew Bloom and Florence Perkins. She graduated from Auburn High School in 1965, and was crowned Miss Auburn that year. She attended the University of Washington from 1965 until 1969, studying music, and sang for the Seattle Opera. Genie was a singer frequently praised for her talents, providing solo performances at local events and for church services throughout her adult life.

Genie was a wonderful mother who greatly loved and prioritized her family. She married Roger Hornbuckle in 1972 and the union was blessed with four children. They later separated in 1983 and she remarried in 1988 to Lester Clayton until his passing in 2012. Genie positively impacted the lives of not only her family and peers, but especially the many children at her daycare over four decades, who now affectionately remember her as “Nana”.

She enjoyed gardening, camping at the beach, and spending her quiet evening hours in prayer with her Heavenly Father. Her affinity for spirituality and heroic fantasy tales were passed on to later generations, as she would read aloud Bible stories and books by C.S. Lewis and Tolkien to captive audiences. Her family and friends will always remember her as a joyful, nurturing woman, full of curiosity and occasional irreverent humor.

A funeral is scheduled for 9:00 AM, June 8, 2022 at Sumner Voiles Funeral Chapel, 15124 Main St. E, Sumner, WA 98390, with an 11:30 AM burial ceremony to follow at Tahoma National Cemetery 18600 SE 240th St., Kent, WA 98042. Pastor Larry will officiate. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Genie’s life.