Clayton was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and grew up there with his mom, sister, uncles, aunt, and cousins in a close-knit family. He was inducted into the Army at Fort Sill, on July 13, 1943, and sent for Basic and Medical Training at Camp Barkeley near Abilene, Texas. Clayton joined Company C of the 328 Medical Battalion of the 103rd Infantry Division at Camp Claiborne, LA, and soon moved to Camp Howze for nine months of training prior to deployment to Southern France and movement on-line into the Vosges Mountains. Clayton was assigned to a Medical Det, Company K as a Platoon Medic to support a line infantry platoon and stayed with Co K throughout the entire combat period. He often told the story that after landing at Marseille, they marched in 11 miles where they engaged the Nazis. He was only on-line about two weeks when he was wounded outside of Steige, France, on Nov. 24, 1944. His wounds were patched up at an aid station, and he went right back on-line and served in a forward position the entire war. Clayton served at the Battle of the Bulge where more than 600,000 American soldiers bore the brunt of that Nazi attack and incurred their highest casualties of any operation during the entire war. Clayton earned: The Bronze Star * The Purple Heart * The EAME Campaign Medal with 3 Battle Stars * The World War II Victory Medal * The Good Conduct Medal. He also helped dedicate the Purple Heart Monument in Edmond, and the 103rd Division Monument in Gainesville, TX, near where they trained before deployment. Today, his daughters honor him by burying him in the uniform he wore with pride. After discharge, he found work in Okla. City sweeping up the print shop at H. Dorsey Douglas office supply. He learned typesetting, printing, and worked his way up to salesman. After 20 years there, he worked for Mike Bryan Office Products as a salesman for over 30 years. Clayton was an Oklahoma lifetime hunting and fishing license holder. He scraped together $150 in 1968 to become the 76th Oklahoman to buy one. License No. 76 is one to be quite proud of since there are now tens of thousands issued. He first started hunting squirrels at age 13 and remembers often having fried squirrel for breakfast. In the 1950s, Clayton owned a bird dog he named "Ike" after President Eisenhower which he used for quail hunting. He first buck in 1950 was a big 8-pointer and is still mounted above the fireplace at his home along with numerous antelope, elk, javelina, turkey, and pheasant trophies. Clayton has said "I've hunted every year, all my life." He hunted with his good friend Daryl Osmus, who holds lifetime license No. 28,853. Daryl has said "Clayton had more energy at 70 than I did at 30. He's taught me a lot, and everything I've learned from him, I've passed on to my son." He remained an active hunter until age 85 and truly enjoyed teaching his daughters how to hunt and use a rifle. Sherrie, Vicki and Kathy joined him on many hunting trips; the girls have special memories of Thanksgiving holidays spent camping in the backwoods. Clayton was an avid fisherman and truly enjoyed teaching Sherrie, Vicki, and Kathy how to fish, bait a hook, untangle a "bird's nest" from a reel, and how to clean the fish they caught. All 3 of his girls thoroughly enjoyed fishing with him. Clayton and his family loved to travel and enjoyed vacations all over the southern U.S. The family often spent many summer weekends at the lake water skiing, tubing, and swimming. He enjoyed playing golf with his son-in-law Steve, who learned quickly the "putt once, if it didnt go in the next one was a gimme (no matter how close it was). Clayton would play with Steves group, who werent so generous with putts. The group still remembers, if they werent quiet during his short putts, they would get that turn of his head and a stare down which shut them up quickly. He was a devoted OU Sooners and OKC Thunder fan. His other recent activities were dancing at the VFW and casino trips to Shawnee with his friend of 15 years, Ann Brewer. Clayton was a beloved husband, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Sherrie. He is survived by his two daughters, Vicki Eckerd and Kathy Barnwell; Vicki's husband Steve; four grandchildren: David Lewis, wife Jodi, Jeffrey Gann, wife Joy, Kelli Eckerd, Kaleb Berend, Kaycee Berend; nine great grandchildren: Konner, Keegan, Bauer, Mikaal, Ashlyn, Kaylyn, Beckham, Atlas Clayton, and Ripley. Funeral Service Mercer-Adams Chapel Thursday, April 26, 2018 02:00 PM 3925 N. Asbury Bethany, OK 73008