Clyde D. Alley Dr. Clyde D. Alley, former plant manager of

Clyde D. Alley Dr. Clyde D. Alley, former plant manager of the Pantex Nuclear Weapons Facility, passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 16, 2025. Clyde was born on August 27, 1931, in Springfield, Tennessee, and was the eldest of four children. At the age of ten, he was thrust into a family leadership role when his father died unexpectedly. In his youth, Clyde poured energy into his schooling in Springfield and then into his education at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where in 1956, he earned a doctoral degree in physical chemistry. A member of the American Chemical Society for more than 50 years, Clyde had an impactful career including a national role in the nuclear defense industry. After completing his doctoral degree, Clyde began his professional career at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, which was followed by positions at Northrup and Chemtronix in Asheville, North Carolina. From 1988 until 1996, he served as vice-president and plant manager of the Pantex Nuclear Facility near Amarillo. This facility, which has the unique responsibility in the United States of assembling and disassembling nuclear weapons, employed about 2000 people at that time. Before this role at the plant, Clyde was manager of research development for fifteen years. In his leadership style, Clyde was known to have led not so much with words, but with example. Clyde is survived by his wife of 68 years, Peggy White Alley; son Michael and his wife Karen Thole; son Jeff and his wife Marilyn Mungerson (with children Meredith and Christopher); and daughter Pam and her husband Scott Dorner (with children Tyler and Zachary). Clyde is also survived by his younger brother Jim Alley, who is a retired pastor in Lynchburg, Virginia, and his sister Harriett Warren, who is a retired Spanish teacher in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2015, Clyde was preceded in death by his younger brother John, a lawyer in Chattanooga. Clyde met his wife, Peggy, in graduate school at the University of Tennessee. Both have doctoral degrees in chemistry: his in physical chemistry and hers in organic chemistry. Peggy was the first female Ph.D. in organic chemistry at that university. For 20 years, Peggy taught chemistry at Amarillo College. In their children, Clyde and Peggy instilled a pursuit of excellence, which is reflected in their careers: Pam, a professional wildlife photographer; Jeff, a former Chief Justice of a court of appeals in Texas; and Michael, an author and college professor at Penn State. A member of the First Baptist Church of Amarillo for a quarter of a century, Clyde served as a deacon in the 1990s. After retiring, Clyde and Peggy moved to Rio Rancho, New Mexico, so that they could be near their daughter. Upon moving to New Mexico in 2000, Clyde and Peggy joined the First Baptist Church in Rio Rancho. Clyde and Peggy traveled much in their retirement years, visiting more than 50 countries that span all seven continents. In retirement, Clyde also served God through the Gideons. By his family, friends, and colleagues, Clyde Alley will be deeply missed. A memorial service for Clyde will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at the First Baptist Church in Rio Rancho. After the service, a remembrance lunch will be held. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Gideons is encouraged.