ARUNDEL – Died on May 30, 2023, after 66 years of sharing with others his fun loving, boisterous and free-spirited personality. Nicknamed the Whale Bone! Born to John Alley Coffey and Patricia Anne Coffey (nee Glennon) in Prides Crossing/Beverly, Mass., on March 17, 1957, after serious decline in health and mobility in Plymouth, Mass., Harborside Healthcare. He was raised a free spirited, rugged, talented, always kind and generous to others in Brookline, Mass. He found a love and career for his passion of food, first by Coolidge Corner’s Jaffe’s “Pick-A-Chick” a popular deli and successful caterer, leading him to Newton’s celebrated Pillar House under the savvy owner/GM Tom Larsen who approved of Clayton to get formal training at Johnson & Wales where he was on the dean’s list and won in culinary competitions as a student there. His motto starting out then was a reggae singer Jimmy Cliff song “You can get it if you really want” from The Harder They Come.

He traveled to work with chef brother Jack to work at Paddy Bugatti’s in Aspen, Colo., opened Whitefeather’s Restaurant in Playa Del Rey, Calif., to 1000 Wilshire A Restaurant in Santa Monica, Calif., to Frangipani’s Restaurant Moreno Valley, Calif., to Westlake Village Inn where he was sous chef under Chef Marty Carlton, then back east to take a career switch working for Death Wish Piano movers in Boston/Cambridge, Mass. when Chef Marty and he became the chef/sous chef for Kennebunkport/Cape Porpoise’s Seascapes Restaurant on the waterfront facing Goats Island.

He bought his “Down on the Farm” a modest farmhouse on four acres at 133 Limerick Rd. in Arundel. He enjoyed 20 years of the changing seasons, strong friendships, appreciation for Maine’s folk artists, the yearly Fryeburg Fair and lovingly cared his mother, Patricia with Alzeheimer’s in his home he shared with her and his greatest supporter in life, Jack.

Clayton worked and gave his finest also to The Lobster Pot, Sam Hill Tavern, Kennbunk Inn, the Atria in Kennebunk and even was a lobster stern man a few seasons.

“Howdy” was his famous greeting and often the only word when sending close friends and family his photos turned impromptu postcards. His Christmas holiday dark chocolate fudge with dried blueberries, cranberries and dry roasted peanuts as well as his N.Y. classic Cheesecake on Lazzaroni Amaretti Cookie crust and topped Mont Blanc sauce of sour cream, brown sugar and Disaronno Amaretto were some of his legendary “food is love” repertoire.

He was predeceased by his parents and survived by a loving and dutiful brother, Jack and Clayton’s nephew John Coffey of Murrieta Calif., and a sister, Jan Galatis and her children all adoring nieces and nephews, Janine, Michael, Christine, Nick, George and Maria Galatis.

A celebration/memorial of his life with requisite map of his home and love of the Kennebunks to be provided at Mulligan’s in Biddeford, June 25, at 12 p.m. More info at Casper Funeral, Boston, Mass., online.

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