Clinton Sidney Ayres

Clinton Sidney Ayres passed away late Tuesday, the 1st of September, 2026. He leaves behind a family who deeply mourn his loss but also remain thankful for his life. And it was an eventful life: he could tell you about the experience of being on a jaguar hunt in South America (though he did not want to kill a jaguar, and was just along because he was staying with the family that was doing it); and about seeing the Doors perform live, though he was a bigger fan of the Rolling Stones.

His descriptions of running through the woods with his younger brother in upstate New York when they were kids and playing with blasting caps and sledding down frozen waterfalls in winter in the creek behind their house were both fascinating and hair-raising, even when you realized he must have survived these adventures since he was standing there telling you about it. He would do things like jumping into a floating canoe from the shore without tipping over (usually), and stopping to move turtles to the side of the road in the direction they were going, if he happened to drive by them. 

He was very proud of his college years at Cornell when he rowed with the Men’s 8 who set a world record for the fastest time (by beating Harvard), and just missed going to the Olympics with the same team the next year.

Clint spent much of his working life as a teacher, sharing his love and interest in physics, biology, and nature, while bringing the same enthusiasm to volunteering on field trips. It is a testament to the enjoyment of learning he manifested that students in his later years would greet him warmly. His interest in what was going on in the world, and how it worked, remained with him throughout his life, an enthusiasm he often instilled in others.

Clint loved many kinds of music, but especially music that you could dance to. He loved to dance, and in fact met his wife Mary at folk dances in Chicago, where they spent ten years as part of an international folk dance performance group. He loved to sing and greatly enjoyed being in the choir at the Wallace Presbyterian Church where he played handbells as well. He participated as long as he could, because of the joy it gave him.

Perhaps the single greatest trait of Clinton Ayres was the joy and enthusiasm he always brought to what he did. Many people will be familiar with his love of good food and beer. He embodied the principle of enjoying one's time on the Earth, and expressing that joy was a trait that endeared him to many. His 'joie de vivre' made any room brighter when he was there. It is perhaps the loss of his light that is so hard to bear, even while the recollection of his energy and love still shines brilliantly in our memories. He was a good person and a kind human being who tried hard to leave things better than he found them. May his memory serve as a reminder to those who knew him best to keep finding the wonderful in the mundane, and to help out any animals you find along your way.

Clint is survived by his wife of more than 55 years, Mary, three children, three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. 

There will be a private funeral, and a memorial service is being planned for December.

 The family requests that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to the Environment or Nature organization of your choice, or to Wallace Presbyterian Church Music/Choir Fund.

You may share your memories and send condolences to the family by selecting our Guestbook on this website. 

Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Wallace is serving the Ayres family.