Grand Marshal - Marilyn Clayson

Marilyn Clayson, a lifelong resident of Santaquin, Utah is the youngest of 13 children born to Albert and Chloe Greenhalgh. Marilyn and her sister, Clarice Peterson, are the only surviving siblings who, even in their advancing years continue to carry on traditions of hard work, volunteerism, and an inherent love of community instilled in them by industrious, hardworking parents who were farmers by trade. Being raised in an agricultural community, the Greenhalgh family knew that the success of a community comes from neighbors and friends rallying together. Marilyn attended elementary and junior high school in the building that now stands as both the Santaquin Chieftain Museum and a monument to our past on the corner of 100 West and 100 South. Marilyn went on to become the first female president of her 9th grade class, eventually graduating from Payson High School with high honors.

After graduation, Marilyn first worked for Hill Field Air Force Base, now Hill Air Force Base, as a secretary to a high ranking official there. She was regularly promoted and quickly found her niche in, and a love for, the professional world. Over the years, she was employed by First Security Bank and Mountain Bell (a former telephone company). Most recently Marilyn retired, just shy of her 86th birthday, after having worked as a New York Life Agent for 34 years. As a single working mother, she thrived in her responsibilities and made both lasting friendships and impressions throughout her career(s). She considers her greatest success in this life to be that of being a mother to her four children. Her oldest, a son, and three daughters, have patterned their lives after her strong work ethic. They are all very driven and have been successful leaders in their own communities and congregations. Her children and grandchildren, jokingly and fondly, remember being “volunteered” to help with community service projects by their mother/grandmother, but she was always right there with them; never asking of them something she wasn’t willing to do herself. Marilyn is a grandmother to 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Marilyn practiced what she preached. She was part of the Santaquin Civic Club which was a beautification committee, an active member of the Santaquin City Fireman’s Auxiliary, she served on the (first) Chamber of Commerce, and also fulfilled two and a half terms, totaling ten years, as a council woman for this city that she loves. She truly is a part of many pioneering efforts to transform this once agricultural town into a city that those who first settled here would be proud of today.

Marilyn has fundraised, applied for grants, and persisted in finding means to accomplish or improve things when others thought there was no other way. She (along with her sister, Clarice) repurposed grass from the ball fields when it was no longer needed there. She and Clarice re-laid that grass on plots at the cemetery that were once bare. She has planted flowers at the entrances of both the cemetery and town alongside her children or grandchildren for many years. Marilyn has invested countless hours of her time helping to improve the rodeo grounds, the cemetery, the Senior Citizen Center, and the EMT program. Never one to shy away from learning more, she enrolled in a program to become an EMT herself so she could run with the paramedics. She helped restore Cherry Days, now Santaquin Orchard Days, because she saw the value of gathering as a community the first weekend in August every year.

Interesting to note because of the present condition of our canyon: in the 1980’s, Santaquin Canyon was closed due to the damage caused by the locally known White Pine Slide. Marilyn and the city council members at the time, along with volunteers from the community, were dogged in their efforts to be heard by the Forest Service; all of them willing to work alongside them in whatever capacity was needed. They donated their time, resources, and even personal equipment to the cause which led to the eventual re-opening of our beautiful canyon. She has been unwavering in her every effort. It is people like Marilyn Clayson that have helped this orchard town to become a community where so many want to raise their own families.

Marilyn has always loved to garden and finds joy in doing what she is still able to do in her yard at 86 years old. She has a large yard with many flower beds with all types of flowers blooming from early spring to late summer.

If Marilyn could give advice to young people or new members of our community, she would say as she’s often said, “Begin. The rest is easy” and “Hard work never hurts anybody.” Volunteer your time. Get to know your neighbors. Be involved, whether that means going to city council meetings or helping someone in need. Just find somewhere to start.