This memorial website was created by mom and dad in the memory of our beloved son, Klayton Baer, who was born in Pennsylvania on November 20, 1984, and passed away on September 24, 2005, at the age of 20 from a blood clot in his right lung that traveled to his heart.



 Klayton was hospitalized Sept 2nd for cellulites in his left arm and underwent three surgeries in four days to drain the poison from his body. He was released from the hospital on September 9 with follow-up appointments to remove the stitches. He seemed to be on his way to recovery. That night he went to Walmart with me just glad to be out. of the house. He was always careful with his still-bandaged arm so as not to bump it. (He had five 3-inch cuts from his wrist to elbow.) He went to the doctor. on the 12th, but he didn't remove the stitches and said to come back on the 19th. During that week Klayton drove to Walmart several times, went to the show twice, and spent a lot of time with his girlfriend Nina. He and his Dad even went to the new Pittsburgh Mills Mall,. However, when they came home, I noticed that Klayton was out of breath walking up the stairs. It was the next day when we were back in the hospital that he got a blood clot in his right lung. He was in severe pain and had to sleep sitting up. He put in some pretty rough nights until they got things under control. On the 22nd he was released to go home without any restrictions. They removed all his IVs, and he walked out of the hospital. It was his choice where to go for lunch, and if you knew Klayton ,you would know it would be the Olive Garden, so off we went. After the salad he was running out of steam and not feeling quite right, so we had the meal to go. Things kept getting worse during the evening, so I called the hospital and was given reassurance that it wasn't anything to worry about but I could bring him back in if I wanted. Klayton refused to go, and said he was getting better. His Dad was working crazy shifts such as doubles and was at work at the time, so I decided if he was feeling better just to wait and see how he was through the night. 



He slept most of the night until 6 a.m. When he got up his words were "I need to go back to the hospital." So off we went. On the way down to the hospital, Klayton looked at me and said, "Mom am I going to die?" I looked at him and said, "Of course not. We are doing whatever we can to get you better." His best friend's dad died of a blood clot, and I told him that his dad had other complications and not to worry. We got to the hospital ,and they admit ed him and ran several tests. I heard one doctor say he should have never been released the day before. The blood clot was larger in size. Klayton's Dad and I talked to the doctor, asking him to operate to prevent the clot from moving. The response was "Your son is young and healthy, and his body will fight off the clot and disolve it." With that assurance, we felt better. They ran several more test that evening , and it came time for Dad to go home. That evening before Ken left , he and Klayton told each other twice "I love you." After Ken left , we setteled in for an unknowing night. At 1 a.m., I heard Klayton moving around and knew it was time for his pain shot, so I got up as usual and rang for the nurse. I would always rub his back where the pain was until the nurse would come with his shot. As I was rubbing his back ,he hugged me and said, "Mom I love you so much." Unsuccessfully trying to hold back the tears, I replied, "I Love you more than you'll ever know, Klayton." As I finished those words, the nurse came in. the room. She gave him his shot so aggressively that it blew out his IV. She had a sleeping pill for him , and he already had taken one at 10. p.m. He had his 6 o'clock pill that was 71/2 hours late. She was one of the most uncompassionate nurses we had run into during his stay. Little did we know she would be the last stranger he would come into contact with on this earth. The minute that nurse walked out the door the blood clot traveled to his heart; and he was gone. No last words to me, no calling for Mom, just silence. The rest is all a blur. Maybe someday I'll be able to piece everything together and finish Klaytons' story; but for now, it's still hard to relive the past. 



Klayton was a member of Christ Prince of Peace Parish, Ford City. He enjoyed going to movies, playing video games, driving around, and shooting pool. Klayton held a black belt in tae kwan do. He attended Lenape Vo-Tech School, where he graduated in 2003. He was named Best All Around Student and also his classmates voted his car sound system as the best around. A scholarship through Lenape Vo-Tech School will be given in Klayton's name each year. 



Klayton spent time with his girlfriend Nina and many friends, including Derek , Andy, Danny and Heather, Aaron, and Chad, and so many others. Klayton and Nina enjoyed eating out, going shopping and to the movies. They attended the Ford City Snowball. He could also be seen around Baer Beauty, his mom's shop, where her customers watched him grow up.The customers at Baer Beauty are like an extended family. Kathi has been doing hair for 32 years, and owned Baer Beauty for 20 years, so alot of the customers have been with Klayton since he was born watching every faze of his life, from his first birthday, first steps, first tooth ,first day in school, first girlfriend, first car, first wreck, getting diabetes, hospital stays,graduation, proms, snowballs, college, jobs. Everything family shares, but his life was shared with so many because of Baer Beauty. Klayton, his parents, and family and friends are avid fundraisers for the Juevenile Diabetes Association. Over the past 12 years, they participated in the annual Diabetes Walk-a-Thon in North Park. In addition, they raised money through dances, bake sales, and raffles for various gifts at his mother's shop. Baer Beauty has set up the Ford City Diabetes Fund at the S&T Bank, Ford City, PA, where donations are accepted.

 

Klayton's middle name Layne was taken from his grandmother, Elaine, whom he never met as she passed away in 1970 from cancer. Surviving paternal grandparents are, Rosella and Harold Miller, of Slate Lick; His girlfriend Nina Graziano of Ford City; and aunts and uncles, Randy and Chester Hopper; Sis Groff, Carol Silvis, Edward J. and Timothy Baer, Dee Zoller, and Kathie Earl. His maternal grandfather Allen J Hopper, maternal grandmother Elaine J Hopper {Smith} great grandmother Nellie Smith {Hetrick} praternal grandfather Edward M. Baer and stepgrandmother Mary C. Hopper {Hooks} precedeed him into heaven. Along with a good friend Johnny Milligan who died on Klayton's birthday in 1999 from a car crash. Klayton is laid eternally by Johnny's side. 



Klayton was also blessed to have Jim and Cathy Eddy, who loved him like a son. Jim was his Godfather and Kathie Earl (Squirt) was his Godmother. With these people in his life it made his life as whole and complete filled with nothing but love for him, as the love he felt for them. Thank you!