Clayton Wayne Schavrda, our cherished friend, a loveable country boy, an accomplished businessman, and a man with a heart as big as Texas itself, transitioned from this life into heaven on Friday, June 10, 2022.

Clayton (Clay), also known as “Big Shav,” is widely known throughout Sealy and the surrounding area for his genuine love of life. Always ready to help with a charity event, pitch in on disaster relief efforts, or just check up on a friend or family member, Clay was the type of man we all looked up to and counted on in times of need.

A true Texas native, Clay began life in Houston under the shadow of the brand-new Greenway Plaza. His zest for life was recognized early as his image was featured in marketing publications for the plaza. His family soon moved to Katy and later to Sealy, where he spent his formative years gathering many friends who would remain close to him throughout the rest of his life. Clay graduated from Sealy High School in 1987. Never afraid of hard work, he was a proud letterman and part of the outstanding Sealy football tradition.

Following high school, Clay went on to attend college at Blinn and Sam Houston State where he studied business and began developing the professional knowledge and skills which he would use as the foundation for building his businesses. During and following college, Clay worked for Sealy Electrical Supply, where the owner, Dwight Anderson, saw the potential in Clay and mentored him throughout the start of Clay’s career.

In 1996, Clay founded Starbrite Electrical Services in Sealy. For more than 26 years, Starbrite has continued to grow and continues today as a key provider of commercial electrical construction services in the local and regional areas. Throughout, Clay continued to believe in his staff and pass on the mentoring approach he learned early on. Starbrite was recently recognized as the “Business of the Year for 2021” by the Sealy Chamber of Commerce.

Clay regularly gave back to the local community as well, highlighted by several years serving on the Sealy Planning Board, stepping down in 2021.

Clay enjoyed a variety of outdoor activities with loved ones, everything from backcountry 4-wheelers, boating on the lake, or horseback riding as a member on the Saltgrass Trail, to tending his cattle, riding the ranch in his UTV, cruising Texas roads in his 1961 Lincoln Continental convertible, or even participating in the occasional golf outing. But his lifelong love affair as an outdoorsman was never more evident than as an avid hunter and fisherman, his most cherished activities, and ones which came quite naturally to him. Clay was always ready to go when hunting season approached or the fish were running. Whether searching the Gulf Coast for the big reds, West Texas for mule deer, or Central Texas for white-tail, he truly enjoyed the hunt or fish and “one-upping” everyone else on best trophy for the trip.

Clay filled a huge role in all our lives and held our everlasting respect for his large presence and always being ready to tell it like it is. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, his father Wayne Schavrda of Georgetown, Texas, and sister Heather Schavrda Gabbi of Austin, Texas.

In addition to a host of loving extended family members, Clay is survived by his fiancé Marna Lewis, and children Dawson Lewis and Chloe Lewis of Waller, Texas; his mother Christina Beckendorff and stepfather Milton Beckendorff of Sealy; sister Shannon Schavrda Stiner of Sharps Chapel, Tennessee; brother Chase Schavrda of Dallas, Texas; and Uncle Billy Schavrda of Sealy.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the Sealy Education Fund (SEF) for electricians, under the Clayton Schavrda Scholarship Program. More information can be found at www.sealyisd.com/about_us.