Marshall "Clay" Cade

Marshall Clay Cade was born January 1, 1931 and passed away December 25, 2024. Born in Pioneer, Texas to Marvin and Lucy Cade, Clay and his family moved to Iraan, Texas. Clay attended Iraan schools until the middle of his junior year when his parents moved to the ranch outside of Alpine, Texas. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Alpine High School, he attended Sul Ross State University on a full football scholarship. During the middle of his sophomore year, he married Gaile Barrow on December 21, 1951. Clay coached at Alpine High School for two years before becoming head coach at Marathon, Texas for four years. 

Anticipating athletic excellence and superior educations for his two sons, Clay and his family moved to Sonora in 1963. Clay worked as the elementary school principal until his retirement in 1998. During his interim as principal, Clay helped close the Elliot School and incorporated them under the Sonora Elementary School.

Clay’s love of rodeoing included teaching his sons, grandson and friends’ children to rope and the necessity of always riding a good horse. Clay’s friends remember him as a great horse trainer and having the ability to “put them on to a good one” when they needed a good horse. His horse Smokey, who he trained and rode to national acclaim, was chosen as the Roping Horse of the Year in 1999 by the American Quarter Horse Association.

Clay is survived by his two sons, Jimmy and Larry Cade; three grandsons, Mackenzy, Call and Creed Cade; and two great grandsons, Cohen and Brax Cade. He is preceded in death by his grandson Tan Cade, wife Gaile Cade, his mother, father and siblings.

Clay had a sharp memory all the way to the end and always remembered all his roping and rodeo friends from over the years and spoke fondly of them. 

Pallbearers are as follows: Johnny Hudson, Keith Hudson, Terry Shinkle, Mike Keller, Bud Whitehead and Sam Powers.

Honorary Pallbearers - The 1970 Sonora Broncos Football Team.