Obituaries
Aurora Shooting: Elgin Man Remembered as 'Fierce Protector'
Clayton "Clay" Parks put his family first, according to his obituary. He is also remembered for his contagious laugh and smile.
ELGIN, IL — The funeral service for a 32-year-old human resources manager from Elgin who was fatally shot by a disgruntled employee will be held this weekend. The visitation for Clayton “Clay” Parks will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 23 at Willow Funeral Home, 1415 W. Algonquin Road in Algonquin, and his funeral will begin at 2 p.m. He is being remembered as a “fierce protector of his family and friends” who “commanded attention when he entered a room.”
“... [He] could strike up a conversation with anyone he came into contact with. His smile and his laugh were contagious,” according to Parks’ obituary.
Those attending Clay’s funeral are encouraged to dress in comfortable clothing.
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As we celebrate Clay’s life, please come dressed in what makes you most comfortable. For Clay, that was sports attire or Salt Life brand clothing. He left the formal dress for work, so let’s show our love for him by honoring his stance on comfortable clothing and wearing what’s most comfortable to us, whether that’s sports attire, Salt Life, or something else!
Parks had worked at Henry Pratt Manufacturing in Aurora since November. He graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2014.
He is survived by his wife, Abby Parks, and his 10-month-old son, Axel. His family was his “greatest job,” according to his obituary.
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“He took his responsibilities as a husband and father very seriously and held those titles above all else,” according to obituary.
The Parks’ family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to GoFundMe campaigns set up following Clay’s death.
- Donations can be made to the Clay Parks Memory Fund here
- Donations to Axel Parks’ college fund can be made here
Clayton Parks' full obituary can be found here.
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