Ceylon Lorenzo Barclay, 86, died 08/25/2026 in Boone, NC. He was predeceased by his parents, John Hammond Barclay and Elizabeth Eaton Barclay, his brothers, John and Franklin, and sisters, Judy and Stephanie. His wife, Irina, and siblings Rebecca and David survive. Ceylon is the father of five: Lonnie, Craig, Lisa, Troy, and Anastasia; they live in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Roswell, GA, Blowing Rock, NC, Denver, CO, and Charlotte, NC. The grandfather of fourteen and great-grandfather of two, Ceylon graduated from Livermore Falls, ME High School, majoring in agriculture, Kents Hill Prep School, after two years in the Army, Colby College in 1963 with a BA degree in Philosophy. While at Colby, Barclay was President of the Kappa Delta Rho fraternity, director of the band, member of the Colby Eight, (a male acapella group that sang for six decades at Colby graduations with song from their two LPs in six-part harmony rooted in Gershwin, Kenton, and Ellington), and the International Relations Club. A Ford Motor Company executive, he rose through nine assignments in Jacksonville, Dearborn, and Denver to supervise sales in ten western states. Resigning in 1974, to launch his ten restaurant businesses; Barclay built it to 500 employees, before other interests lead to far-flung operations, resulting in years abroad in Sri Lanka, Grenada, W.I., Nicaragua, China, and Russia. An avid reader and author of his own eleven books.

Between 1963 and 1982, confronting an escalating inability to ambulate, hear, and see, Barclay was diagnosed by 23 doctors and clinics with severe Multiple Sclerosis and treated for it for 15 years. Although this profoundly altered his life, a six-month trip around the world in 1983 spurred his interest in helping local, state, national, and international organizations. He became the president/director of nine non-profit boards. For 30 years, his consulting took him to Thailand, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Grenada, Kenya, Nicaragua, and Malawi. Philanthropy continued to be present throughout his life as Barclay served on the Ormond Beach Historical Society, was a national trustee of the Florida Chair of the East Coast Greenway Alliance, Inc., and many other causes over the years.

He was President of a Russian Educational Foundation with Soviet President Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev, which required him to live in Russia, where he met and married his present wife of over 24 years, Irina Yevgenyevna Barclay, Ph.D.

Barclay thrived on world challenges, and it’s reflected in every aspect of his life. An artist, Barclay was a lifelong painter, loved music, reading, writing, and reflecting on life’s greatest philosophies. Most importantly, Ceylon will be remembered for his dedicated service, his love for his family and community, and the joy he brought to all who knew him.

Online condolences may be sent to the Barclay family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.