Donald Clayborn

Donald “Louie” Clayborn was born to Donald Sr and Madge Kirkaldie on July 4th,1951. Louie has three siblings, Diane (Randy) Perez, Ted (Dee) LaSalle and Patsy LaSalle. Louie was raised in Harlem MT, as well as other communities around Montana. He graduated from Harlem High School in 1969. He met and married Elaine Gilham in 1969. Mickey was born in 1970, Kacey in 1974 and Dannai in 1977. Elaine and Louie were happily married until Elaine’s passing in January of 1984. Louie never remarried after her passing. She was the love of his life.

Louie and Elaine were strong believers in education and the power it has to change peoples’ lives. After working on his master's degree in education administration, Louie worked in various capacities for tribes across the Northwestern United States. In 1983 he was appointed as the Coordinator of Indian Affairs for Governor Ted Schwinden. This was the first of 4 governors that Louie worked the Coordinator position for. Louie’s professional career revolved around working with Native American populations for over 30 years.

Louie is survived by his three children Mickey (Dan) Kunnary, Kacey (Lisa) Clayborn and Dannai (Charlie Lane) Clayborn. He is also survived by his grandson Matthew Kunnary. Finally, Louie is survived by his natural and siblings by marriage, Diane (Randy) Perez, Ted (Dee) LaSalle, Patsy LaSalle, Maurice Adams, Tony Babcock, Ronnie (Janice) Gilham, Jackie Gilham, Paula (Jerry) Slyker, Greg (Leslie) Gilham, Clarence (Kathy) Gilham, Stacey (Mark) Keller, Shonnie Gilham and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Louie has been cremated and will be interred with Elaine in the Schildt family cemetery at the end of July. Dad was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, which is directly related to Parkinson’s Disease. If you would like to remember him, lighting a candle at any Christian church would be appreciated, as would any donation you would like to make to The Parkinson's Disease Foundation. Thank you to all family and friends that dad had. He was lucky to have all of you in his life.

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