Brandon Ray Clausen, 88, “Pops” to so many who loved him, died on Wednesday, February 24, 2021, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
He was born in Mobile, Al., on Aug. 26, 1932, to the late Harry Donald Clausen and Marie Savage Clausen. He had a brother, Harry Donald, and a sister Minnie.
Ray joined the 200th Infantry Regiment of the Alabama Army National Guard and became a Staff Sergeant and Ranger in 1952. He participated in a test explosion of an atomic bomb in Nevada in 1951 and was a member of the Atomic Veterans Association.
Ray attended Auburn University, graduating in 1957 with a degree in electrical engineering. While at Auburn he was involved in fraternity life as a Theta CHI. And, he became one of Auburn footballs biggest fans! In 1969, Ray received his Masters in Engineering from Lamar University.
After graduating from Auburn, he began his career with Gulf States Utilities Company in Beaumont, Texas. While there he specialized in Transmission Planning and Design. In 1974, Ray moved his family to Andalusia, Al., and worked at Alabama Electric Cooperative as Manager of Engineering. During his time there he was instrumental in the development and construction of the McIntosh Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Plant, the first in America and the second in the world. After his retirement from AEC, he served as vice president/partner of Filtration Manufacturing, Inc. in Andalusia, Al.
Ray’s last retirement led he and the love of his life, Mikelyn Perry Clausen, to Destin, Fl. They
could always be found enjoying the view of the gulf from their condo. Ray’s other favorite pastimes included napping and searching out the best seafood gumbo.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, brother, sister and his wife of 32 years, Mikelyn Perry
Clausen.
He is survived by his children, Ray Clausen, Jr (Deena), Mike Clausen (Pauline) and Don Clausen
(Kim) who he shared with his first wife, Anna TerBoo Clausen, Joe Perry, Lee Perry (Margie) and Jan Perry Brock(Charlie), his grandchildren, Kelli Jurek (Sammy), Betsy Miller (Matt), Kacy McKinney, Elizabeth Clausen, Alexa Clausen, Riley Saunders, Kaylee Saunders, Chandler Clausen, Brandon Clausen, Bailee Clausen and Kristine Kline Foley (Mark), three great grand-children, Connor, Sam and Dyllon. Whether by birth or by marriage, to Ray it was just one big wonderful family.
Memorial services will be held at a later date in Destin, Fl. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Heart Association.
Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home & Crematory, Battlefield Parkway.