Howard E. Clayton's Obituary
Howard Edison Clayton was born on December 11, 1914 on a farm near Holly Springs, MS to Thomas and Rixie Mae Clayton. He went to be with the Lord he loved and served on September 30, 2016. He had a wonderful life and was 101 years old. Early in his life he was in the Conservation Corp, (3C Camp) and worked in West Texas. During that time he met and married the love of his life, Christine and they were married for 57 years and had one son, Ben. Work in West Texas was scarce in those years, so when World War II started, he knew he could find work in the War Industry in California. So they packed up everything they owned, put it on a trailer, pulled it behind a Model A Ford and moved to California.
He worked in a Steel Producing plant until he was drafted into the Navy towards the end of the War. After the war, he worked for the Civil Service and would stay with that job for over 30 years. For over 20 of those years he was a Deacon in his Church in California and he used his building skills to manually help build two church buildings. He loved his church and served it well. He loved camping and fishing and spent a lot of times during his retirement in an RV near some fishing spot. When Christine was diagnosed with ALS disease they moved to Longview, Texas to be near his son and wife, Ben and Sandie.
They joined Fellowship Baptist Church at that time. They lived in Springhill until she passed in 2000. He then moved to Colonial Village Retirement Home where he enjoyed playing dominos and visiting with his many friends. When he became less healthy and needed some medical help he moved to Summer Meadows Nursing Home. He loved it there and had many friends there too. His last year was spent at Treviso Transitional Care where he was very comfortable.
He often said, “I don’t know why the Lord is letting me live so long, but I’m ready to go whenever He calls.” He often preached to his fellow resident about their need of the Lord in their lives.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Rixie Mae Clayton; his sister, Hazel Maxwell; his wife, Christine, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
He is survived by his son, Reverend Ben Clayton and wife, Sandie of Longview; his grandson, Mark Clayton of Camden, AR; his grandson, Chris Clayton and wife Cindy of Longview; his granddaughter, Carrie Batton and husband Johnny of Prattville, AL; nine great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren and his good friend for many years and domino partner, Ann Pope of Longview.
Special thanks to all those former caregivers at Summer Meadows Nursing Home, Treviso Transitional Care and CareTeam Hospice, who took care of him during his final years and days.
Services will be held at the Rader Funeral Home, Longview on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. with Family Visitation Monday evening, October 3, 2016 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Memorials may be given to Fellowship Baptist Church, Longview or CareTeam Home Health and Hospice, Longview.
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