Henry Clay Gorton was born on March 7, 1923. Clay devoted his life in service to his Savior. He fulfilled six missions, including service as a mission president in Cordoba, Argentina, and as the president of the Missionary Training Center in Santiago, Chile. He also served as a stake president, a bishop, a welfare services region agent for the Los Angeles, California, region, a counselor to four stake presidents, and a member of three high councils. His final calling was as a sealer in the Bountiful, Utah, Temple.

After his first mission, he went to Brigham Young University and got a Master of Arts in physics and math. After graduation, he conducted applied research in semiconductor physics at Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio, for sixteen years. After his service as mission president, he joined the staff of the Electronics and Defense Sector of TRW in Redondo Beach, California. After he retired from TRW in 1986, he worked at TRW Components International as Chief Scientist.

He had been active in the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Institute of Environmental Sciences, and the Electrochemical Society. He served as divisional editor for the Journal of the Electrochemical Society. He is the author of eighteen technical publications and has been a guest speaker for the American Society for Quality Control. He has also been a guest lecturer at the Moore School of Engineering in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

After moving to Bountiful, Utah, in 1992, he obtained his pilot’s license and enjoyed aerobatic flying. He served four years as the editor of the newsletter for the Salt Lake Chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and three years as the editor of the Starduster Magazine.

Clay has authored eight books and has written a number of papers on religion, philosophy, health, and aviation. His last years were spent serving as “Gramps” on www.askgramps.org, where he adopted thousands of people worldwide as his "grandchildren," assisting them through his wit, wisdom, and sound advice.

His exemplary life has influenced many people around the world.