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Clayton Ronald Larkin, 83

Born March 11, 1936, in Unity, N.H.

Deceased Jan. 20, 2020, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

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Clayton Ronald Larkin passed away at the Hospice of North Idaho Schneidmiller House on Jan. 20, 2020, with family by his side.

He was born in Unity, N.H., on March 11, 1936, and moved to Bolton Landing, N.Y. Clay was raised by his parents, John and Ruth Larkin.

Clay attended school at Bolton High School. He was an outstanding baseball and basketball player and he also participated in band. After graduating from Bolton High, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he served from October of 1953 until October 1965. He traveled to many bases and overseas.

After leaving the Air Force, Clay came to North Idaho, where he attended North Idaho Junior College. He achieved certification as a forest technician in their first class. Clay then found work in a wholesale grocery warehouse, The Roundup Company, in Spokane, Wash. He spent almost 30 years there before he retired in 1995.

Clay was involved in the Post Falls Volunteer Fire Department from 1969 to 1986, where he rose to the rank of assistant chief. He also worked in the volunteer ambulance service from 1969 to 1978, becoming an EMT. In 1978 Clay ran for public office, to sit on the school board of trustees, and was elected. He held that position for almost nine years and served as chairman for four years.

He spent many years fishing his favorite lakes in the area. In 1985, he taught himself how to tie large fishing flies and started his company, Gadabout Flies, which operated until 2007. His Roosevelt Muddlers became popular and he furnished them to the White Elephant stores in Spokane for several years.

In 1995, after retiring from his job in Spokane, he decided to run for Post Falls City Council and was elected. Clay served five years as councilor, and then as mayor for 13 years, until he retired in 2014. He felt very honored to be part of the teams that brought so many new businesses to Post Falls. He would say “it is all teamwork.” In the process, he served on many boards and commissions and helped out the Veterans group, being a longtime member of the American Legion and VFW.

Clay also enjoyed race cars. In fact, he built many cars that raced at Stateline Speedway, including his own. He was always handy with a wrench and other tools. He loved to spend time tinkering on vehicles.

After some time in North Idaho, Clay met and married Deanna Calkins on June 2, 1967. They lived at the same address for almost 53 years.

Clay is survived by his wife, Deanna, of 53 years; daughter, Alison McArthur and husband, Jeff McArthur of Spokane Valley, Wash.; daughter, Lori Larkin and significant other, Doug Barker of Bayview, Idaho; son, Rich Larkin and wife, Becky, of Warrensburg, N.Y.; sister-in-law, Darlene Williams of Coeur d’Alene; nephew, Don Williams and wife, Tracy Williams of Otis Orchards, Wash. and their children Kristi and Cory and their families; Pam Williams of Battle Ground, Wash. and her children Scott and Jenica and their families.

He is preceded in death by grandson Evan Larkin in 2015; Clay’s parents John and Ruth Larkin in New York; and his twin brothers Albert and Arthur of New Hampshire.

He was always proud of his family and their accomplishments. He was very grateful to have so many friends in the area and he enjoyed helping as many people as he could. He created the Mayor’s Youth Awards program for the City of Post Falls. He also worked hard on the Greensferry Overpass with a lot of other members of the community, as transportation was important to him and he was able to see it finally being built. He was also proud of his work in bringing the businesses Cabela’s and Buck Knives to Post Falls. Of course these were important to him, as he loved to fish and hunt.

He worked as much as he could to help Veteran causes, including membership to American Legion and VFW in Post Falls. He also was very active in promoting a new Veterans Home for Post Falls, which will be built later this spring.

The family would like to thank all the medical professionals that have worked on him during his lifetime and kept him going. We would like to thank the staff of Hospice of North Idaho that helped us during the last few months of his life, especially Nurse Liz, CNA Wanda, Nurse Will, Nurse Tracy and Social Worker Stephanie.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Hospice of North Idaho-Schneidmiller House, 2290 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815, in Clay’s name, or to the Veterans Home that will be built in the spring, Idaho Veterans Home, 351 Collins Road, Boise, ID 83702 (Attn: Tracy Schaner In memory of Clay Larkin for the Post Falls Veterans Home) or to the charity of your choice.

A celebration of life, which will be a casual open house, will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, at the Kootenai Fire and Rescue Training Center, 5271 W. Seltice Way, Post Falls, ID 83854.

Bell Tower Funeral Home is handling arrangements.