Merritt Hugo White Clay

Merritt Hugh White Clay, affectionately known as “Hugo”, went home to be with the Lord and Savior on November 2, 2024 in Billings, MT.

Merritt was born to Phillip White Clay Sr. and Peggy Joyce Plenty Hoops on March 26, 1948 in Crow Agency. After his mother passed away when he was 8 years old, Phylis and Martin Spotted Horse, Sam and Adelia Bull Horse, Katie Froze Pretty Weasel, Vernon, Jr. and Carol White Clay all had a hand in raising Hugo.

Hugo received his education in Pierre, South Dakota, Lodge Grass, Crow Agency and graduated from Flandreau High School. Hugo participated in cross country, track and field events. He later got a degree in Graphics Designs at S.I.P.I. in Albuquerque, NM. Hugo was a self-taught jack of all trades, plumber, electrician, roofer, carpenter and circus manager. In his younger years, he was a bareback rider, and he would do yard work around crow. Hugo and Tyrone worked at Fox Service Center in Hardin. Hugo worked in the printing department at Billings Gazette, he was an instructor for Graphics Design at LBHC and later was on the College Board, Big Horn County Court House, Crow Tribe as AML Director, AKCC. Later, was elected as Black Lodge Legislator serving a 4-year term. He was a devoted pastor at the Black Lodge Church and had many prayer meetings in churches and homes as he traveled across the U.S preaching the Word of God. His hobbies were hunting, fishing, rodeo, making jewelry, fixing war bonnet and bustles, and cooking. He spent his time with his grandchildren, telling stories, taking them on trips, attending all their activities in school and rodeo, showing them life lessons, his world revolved around his grandchildren. He had two great-grand-children whom he cherished and loved, Karmyn Sue (Boss) and Harold Saint (Rooster). Hugo had a hand in raising his grandchildren, Sadie Brooke, Austin Brennan, Dallas Spur, Wyatt Clay, Susanna Joy, Slick Matthew, Bryan Walker, Robert (Sodapop), Ava Joy, Shania, this is who he called his football team and cheerleaders. Hugo’s grandchildren were his right hand, relying on them to help him.

Merritt married Karen YoungBird on March 17, 1975 in Billings, MT.  From this union they had Peggy, Jaime and Burney. They lived in Billings, Hardin and later made their home in Black Lodge. Karen passed away in 2012, Hugo still resided in Black Lodge until his passing.  He had a son River Glenn, whom he loved to watch him play sports at Lockwood and Pryor.

Preceded in death by his parents, his wife; grandsons Tyler Joe and Elijah Whiteclay; brothers Monte Ray, Tyrone, Phillip Jr, Richard White Clay, Clinton Laforge, Kenneth Plenty, Howard and Ronald White Clay, Paul, Martin and Willard Spotted Horse; sisters Rachel Beatty, Phylene and Susie Big Man, Bonnie White Clay, Marie, Meridith and Gordon Lincoln, Sherry Lou Laforge, Marlene Thomas, Aunts, Jolene White Clay, Regina Stewart, Carol (Vernon) White Clay Sr, Alice Mae Laforge, Alice Mae Tobacco, Eloise (Guy) White Clay, Harold White Clay; sons Clay Youngbird, Brandon Johnson, Justin Youngbird, Matthew Dean White Clay and Rueban Spotted Horse; daughters Marietha Cook, Michelle Walkingbear, Raven Whiteclay and Leitha Spotted Horse.

Merritt is survived by his daughters; Peggy White Clay, Jaime (Landon) Medicine Bull, Rhea (Phileo), Patricia Beatty, Holly (Chad), Michelle Lucree, Lissa, Autumn, Jolee White Clay, Luane Pearl Four Bear, Angela (Hartford) Bear Claw, Carolyn Pretty Weasel, Pauletta (Terry) Birdinground, Dawn (Bryan) Old Bull, Wynonna RealBird, Sherri (Ryan), Dusty (Kenny), EzraMae, Lena Grace WhiteClay, Delauria Spotted Horse and Natalie Colliflower; sons Burney (Tiffany) White Clay, River (Ava), Delbert, Thomas (Michele), Boveau (Miranda), Frank (Jade) White Clay, John RealBird, Reynolds, Mike (Jessie), Kevin (Louann), Robert, Duane (Dawn), Tony (Julie), Dwight (Tanisha) and Pete (Yvette) Youngbird, Seth, Logan, Ramsey, Taylor WhiteClay, Sarcee RealBird and Leory Stewart; sisters Rebecca Buffalo, Veronica, Clydine WhiteClay, Dawna (Robert) Nelson, Verna (Franklin) Jefferson, Rebecca Jefferson, Sandra (Myron) Shields, Colleen (Walter) Old Elk, Claudia (Tim) Bernardis, Cheri (Mark) RealBird, Verna Koch, Gail Iron, Ardith (Clifford) Birdinground, Francine (John) Small, Mary (Thomas) TenBear, Joyce Laforge, Debbie (Michael) Gust, Valerie (Travis), Bobaleen Brien, Jolene Whiteclay, Rosemary Lincoln, Beverly and Laura Whiteclay, Clarice Denny, Loretta Three Irons, Myra Lefthand,  Claudine Smith; brothers Franklin (Rebekah), Francis, Tommy (Cheryl), Buzzy (Jolene), Delano (Alta), Clinton (Kathleen) and Kenneth White Clay, Cj and Jared Stewart, George and Daryll Pretty Weasel, Waylon Joe, Harold, Vernon, Larry dean Brien

Extended family members including; the Stiff Arm, Brady, Capture, Fox, Pretty Eagle descendants, Stewart, White, Morrison, Spotted Horse, Joan Horn, Ruby PlainFeather, YoungBird, Johnson, Edith Birdinground and Mike Fitzpatrick Families.

The family would like to acknowledge Garrison Bulltail, for taking care of Hugo at dialysis along with the staff at Billings Clinic.

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