1946
Clayton
2025
Clayton Carlisle
November 4, 1946 — February 23, 2025
Clayton Carlisle was born on November 4, 1946 in Hudson, MA and was a lifelong learner, attaining a BA in Political Science from Northeastern University and a Master of Public Administration from Clark University, then continuing with additional studies at Clark University, Bentley University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Michigan, where he was granted a Fellowship to study at the American University of Armenia.
Clayton leaves a distinguished legacy of public service, with over 45 years in municipal management and planning. He served in communities in Ohio, throughout Massachusetts, and even assisted with development in Armenia, where he connected deeply with one side of his family’s cultural heritage. Clayton’s management skills were also employed by FEMA, and he deployed to more than 20 disaster sites as far south as post-Katrina Louisiana and as far north as the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.
In 1969 Clayton married Alice Marie Paquin of Shaftsbury, VT, and together they enjoyed traveling, visiting friends and family, and always learning about other cultures. They spent time in Armenia, and in China before that was common. In both, Clayton mixed business with pleasure, consulting on management, as well as taking in the sights. Their home in Hudson, MA became a social center where they staged parties, notably Bastille Day bashes. They celebrated the Portuguese heritage of the Hudson area and hosted travelers from Ireland. They appreciated Irish and other folk music and enjoyed it live with friends in the pubs in their area.
Clayton loved to tinker, and being the son of an engineer, always seemed to have a new tool to show off. For many years he made batches of pear wine from a venerable tree at his parents’ home, also in Hudson. Some of those were not too bad!
Clayton had a positive outlook on life that was welcoming and fun. His humor could be wry and subtle or light and downright silly. He took his work seriously, but didn’t take himself too much so. This served him and those around him well, and he always kept a smile handy, even as he could see his own memory fading with the progression of Alzheimer’s.
Clayton and Alice loved family and community. They were the quintessential uncle and aunt, and big-hearted contributors to society. In recent years they relocated to Bennington, VT, near where Alice grew up. There they continued to share their hospitality and good food, especially enjoying nephews and nieces from Alice’s side of the family. Appreciation goes out to that generation for all the support they gave Clayton and Alice. They will both be missed by all who knew them, who worked with them and who loved them.
In addition to his wife, Clayton was predeceased by his father Robert Carlisle in 2001, his mother Marguerite R (Sarkisian) Carlisle in 2015, and his brother Steven Carlisle in 2016. He is survived by a sister Laura Quinlan (Joe) of Clinton, MA, a nephew Keith Carlisle of Sturbridge, MA and nieces Jacquelin Quinlan & Stephanie Quinlan of Clinton, MA.
A celebration of the lives of Clayton and Alice will be held for family and friends at 2:00 PM on the afternoon of April 4, 2025. Mahar Funeral Home & Cremation Services (802-442-2516) is handling arrangements, please contact them for detailed information.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Clayton Carlisle, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Upcoming Services
Prayer Service
Friday, April 4, 2025
2:00 - 2:30 pm (Eastern time)
Mahar and Son Funeral Home
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