Clayton H. Ramsey

Clayton Higdon Ramsey, 89, of Franklin, passed away Thursday, February 18, 2016.

A gentleman and son of Macon County, Clayton was born on the family farm in the Iotla Valley on May 20, 1926, to Albert L. and Margaret Higdon Ramsey where he gathered herbs for medicines with his grandmother and rode the workhorses back to the barn.

Clayton was an educator, farmer, and horse trader.  He taught at Franklin High School, was principal of Iotla Elementary School, and served as assistant superintendant of Macon County Schools.  He chose to return to the classroom as designer and founding principal of the Macon Middle School.  During the summers he developed plans for homes and factories and worked for Ellis Soper in cement plant layout and construction.

As owner and operator of Brawcroft Farm in Iotla, he kept and traded horses and mules, raised cattle, commercial tomatoes, and bell peppers, and an abundance of flowers that he shared freely.  He was a founding member of the Macon County Fruit and Vegetable Coop and its first treasurer.

Clayton was dedicated to community service and was recognized with several awards including the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Community Service.  He was a member of the Franklin Rotary Club and served in all of the official positions of the club, a founding member of the Macon County Horse Association, a member of the Junaluskee Masonic Lodge, and a lifelong member of the Democratic Party.  In addition, Clayton served in the Iotla Community Development Program, as a leader for the Boy Scouts, Methodist Youth Fellowship, and Interact Club, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Macon Program for Progress.  Clayton was a member of the First United Methodist Church.

Clayton loved interesting people and was a regular at Daddy’s Bridge Club, the Sunset for coffee and conversation, and Franklin Fitness for water aerobics.  He loved horses, camping, and trail riding, especially in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Teton Mountains of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and the Sonoran Desert of Arizona.

Clayton was educated at Iotla and Cowee Elementary Schools, Franklin High School, and Western Carolina Teachers College (now Western Carolina University).  He received a B.S. degree Geography in 1949, and an M.A. degree in Education Administration in 1953.

Clayton was predeceased by his parents, wife Lillian Anne Cabe Ramsey, brother Albert, and grandson Lee R. Ramsey.  Clayton is survived by son Henry (Janelle), daughter Sharon (Jeff Gillette), grandchildren Clayton (Claire), Anna Bottcher, Anna Roberts (Cody), Jeffrey Gillette, great-grandchildren Joshua, Nicholas, and Maximus, sister-in-law Margaret Setser Ramsey and numerous nephews and nieces.

The family gives special thanks to the dedicated emergency and medical personnel that gave Clayton his extra time with family and friends.

Clayton will be remembered in a Celebration of Life to be held 2:30 pm, Sunday, February 28, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church.  The family will greet friends after the celebration at the church.  A foundation has been created to continue Clayton’s dedication to the youth of Macon County and the ideals of the Rotary Club.  Donations may be made to The Rotary Club of Franklin Charitable Foundation, P.O. Box 375, Franklin, NC 28744.  Please specify that the contribution be made to honor Clayton Ramsey.

Bryant Grant Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.bryantgrantfuneralhome.com.