Clayton E. Tripp Jr. died at age 55 on June 9 with his loving family by his side. Clayton was born in New Bedford on January 30, 1966, where he lived until moving to Ellsworth, ME from ages 7-13 with his parents. Clay recalled many stories of him and his mother on the “Maine frontier.” Clay returned to New Bedford for high school at New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, where he studied mechanical engineering and made lifelong friends. Clayton got his Associate’s degree from Bristol Community College before working several jobs including at the AT&T Call Center, where he was employed until he had to leave following his lung cancer diagnosis. Clayton made many friends over the years and all who knew him would agree that he was gentle, kind, and loving. He cared for all creatures great and small.
Clayton was living in South Dartmouth with his elderly father when he met Lesley Roy, his loving and devoted partner of 15 years. Clayton did not know it at the time, but he was about to embark on a journey of being a partner, friend, and father figure to Lesley and her children Nick and Jaden Sardella. Clay moved to Mansfield, MA with his new instant family, where he continued to make more friends and connections to others in the way that only he could.
Clayton loved roller coasters, cars/motorcycles, Star Trek, old Westerns, Las Vegas, and random facts, but most of all he loved to make people smile.
Clayton is survived by Lesley, Nick, and Jaden, as well as his sister Karen Daniels-Ambrifi, aunt Joyce Brown Almond, and several cousins and others who knew him as family. Clayton was preceded in death by his mother Ellen Ruth (Brown) Tripp, father Clayton E. Tripp, Sr., and niece Heather Leigh Daniels.
Clayton was an 18+ year lung cancer survivor and in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society directly or through your local Relay for Life, which he faithfully attended. #ClaytonStrong
A celebration of Clay’s life will be held on Friday June 18, 2021 at the Potter Funeral Home with visiting hours from 10:00am - 12:00 P.M. followed by a brief service at 12:00 P.M. Burial will be private.