Carleton Chester Brighton of Newport Beach, California passed away peacefully on June 4,
2024 at 79 years old, surrounded by his loving family. He suffered a fatal stroke, but was vibrant
and full of life up until that moment, doing what he enjoyed most - spending time with his family.
He will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and a loyal friend to the
many he kept close through the years.

Carl truly never met a stranger - he spent most of his afternoons on "Carl's Corner," caring for
his roses and chatting with all who passed by. He was well-loved for his optimism and
engagement with friends, neighbors, and everyone he met. He welcomed people and
experiences into his life with enthusiasm, and rarely turned down an opportunity for a new
adventure: golf, restoring his old wooden boat and other woodworking projects, sailing, surfing,
gardening, traveling, and cataloging his father's WWII artifacts and coin collection. He is
survived by his wife of 53 years, Jean (Heim) Brighton, and his children and their families: Julia
Brighton and John Meagher of Dallas, Texas, Todd and Rachel Brighton and their daughters
Lilly and Amelia of San Carlos, California, and Kevin Brighton of San Francisco, California.

Carleton and his twin sister, Catherine Yarbrough, were born in Niagara Falls, New York, on
March 30, 1945 to Chester Brighton and Inez McKenzie Brighton. As small children, they
moved to the Navy town that they would always call home - San Diego. Carleton graduated
from Helix High School and San Diego State University, where he was a member of the Sigma
Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Carl and Jean met as students at SDSU and were married in San Diego in 1971. They later
settled permanently in Orange County, where they have lived for almost fifty years, and raised
their three children there.

Carleton followed his father's footsteps into the Navy, enlisting in 1969 and shipping off to
Yukosuka, Japan to support the Vietnam War effort as a radioman. After leaving the military, he
began a long career in business, first at Burroughs Corporation and then in the investment
industry. As a mutual fund wholesaler for more than 31 years, he worked his way up to
Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for asset management firms Lord Abbett & Co. and
Thompson Siegel & Walmsley. He was passionate about his career and an early pioneer of the
home office, covering all of California from there in between trips to his offices and sales
territories (which over the years included Texas, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, Alaska, New
York and Virginia). He had warm personal relationships with all of his clients, and was a
generous mentor and coach to more junior members of his firms' sales teams and throughout
the industry, including as a longtime leader in the San Diego Stock & Bond Club.

When Carl retired in 2009, he was able to spend more time in his garden, on woodworking
projects in the garage, and traveling more regularly to international destinations with Jean and
their dear friends. He cheered for the UCLA Bruins basketball team and was a proud member
of the American Legion Post 291 in Newport Beach. He golfed every day, either on the driving
range or playing with the Orange County Seniors golf group on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He
and Jean traveled often to visit their children and families in San Francisco, San Carlos, Oregon
and Texas.

We will celebrate Carl's life on Saturday, June 29 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in
Newport Beach (1441 W. Balboa Blvd, Newport Beach CA 92661). The funeral mass will begin at 11:00 am.