William Clay Hutter

Our family is missing one of its favorite playmates.

Clay could be found shooting hoops with the neighbor kids, hanging out with friends and family always

having the sounds of Sports Center in the background. And above all, he was an amazing father.

"Everybody thought of him as a dad," said his daughter Erica.

William Clay Hutter, 53, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 12, in Mission Viejo. Clay was surrounded by

friends and family wishing him goodbye as he joined his mother June and sister Jen.

Clay was born May 24, 1960, in Santa Monica, Calif. He and his family lived in Northridge until 1967,

when they moved to El Toro. He has lived his life here ever since.

Clay graduated from El Toro High School in 1978, and later he earned his associate's degree at

Saddleback College in 1997.

He first married Monica in 1982, which brought him his children Erica and Nick Hutter.

He first met his wife Theresa in 2001 on a blind date at P.F. Changs. He was so nervous his hand shook

when he was paying the bill, she said. But she just knew that he was the one, she added.

They married Nov. 6, 2004, on the beach in San Clemente.

Along with Theresa came her daughter Amber, who became another daughter to Clay.

"My heart would jump a little bit when he told someone I was his daughter," said Amber. "I was really

proud that he was my dad."

Clay loved the outdoors and sports. He played football, basketball and baseball, golf and surfing. He

passed along this passion to his children. He loved coaching Nick's sports teams when he was a kid and

watching him play in high school and college. He loved playing catch with Erica and taking her to the

batting cages.

He had an adventurous streak that took him rock climbing and skydiving.

He also loved to fish with friends down the coast. Nick remembers Clay taking him out on a boat for

hours - but they never caught anything. On the way home they bought five fish and tried to pass them off as their catch.

He and Nick were always competing with each other. It could be about comparing muscles or answering

Jeopardy questions, he said.

Clay loved to travel. He and his wife went to Ireland, Amsterdam, Paris, the Bahamas, Virgin Islands and around the United States visiting their kids in San Francisco, Portland and Houston.

He also liked going to the zoo and communing with the gorillas, which had a special place in his heart for some reason.

He loved westerns, especially "Tombstone." And his favorite movie was "Happy Gilmore."

He was silly and kind and generous.

"He was the most playful person," said his sister Donna.

Clay is survived by his wife Theresa; children Erica, Nick and Amber; brother Tim and his wife Tami;

sister Donna; nephews Joshua and his girlfriend Amanda, Caleb and his wife Alex, Keegan, Andy,

Taylor and Amicus; nieces Kailey and Harlow; and … Pepe.

He is preceded in death by his sister Jennifer and mother June.

A memorial service is scheduled on Friday, Feb. 21, at 1 p.m. at McCormick and Sons, located in Laguna Beach Canyon. A reception will be held afterward at the beach house. Please park at 2727 Via Cascadita in San Clemente.

Those who wish may send memorials to McCormick and Sons at 1795 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna

Beach, Ca 92561.

You will be so dearly missed and we are grateful for the time we got to have with you. Goodbye, Clay.

Loves.