November 11, 2015

John Raymond Clayton, 89, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., left the loving care of his family to peacefully begin his journey home to be with the Lord on Nov. 7, 2015, at the Fort Scott Medicalodge.
John was born March 18, 1926, in Mapleton, Kan., the son of George E. Clayton and Minnie F. Cook Clayton.
He leaves behind his loving wife Betty Lou (Edgar), of 69 blessed happy years. They were married following John’s service with the Navy during WWII on June 22, 1946, in Fort Scott after meeting on a blind date.
In addition to his wife, Betty, of the home, his survivors include a son, Jimmy Lee Clayton and wife, Janet, of Holton, Kan.; and a daughter, Sarah Lou Kettler and husband, Hubert, of Lawrence, Kan. He had four wonderful grandchildren, Jennifer Hutfles, Matthew Clayton, Lara Sursa, and Jill Reynolds. They provided him with 11 great-grandchildren.
Also surviving is a brother, Bobby Clayton and wife, Betty, of Mapleton; and a sister, Wilma Underwood, of Fort Scott. He leaves behind to cherish his memory many other relatives and friends who loved him dearly.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Mildred Farris and Marie Hueston.
John was a devoted, loving husband, father, brother, grandpa, great-grandpa, uncle and friend. He taught his children and grandchildren to be kind, honest, respectful, good and loving. He was loved and admired for the wonderful man he was in life and respected by all who knew him. He liked to tell stories, hunt, fish, his draft horses and nature. John graduated from Fulton High School with the class of 1944. He was in the Navy during WWII. He worked various jobs throughout his life but retired in 1991 from USD #234, working in maintenance and as a bus driver. He was a member of the Mapleton Christian Church, a 63-year member of the Rising Sun Lodge #8 A.F. & A.M. and a 65-year member of the V.F.W. John will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial followed in the U.S. National Cemetery where Masonic rites were conducted by the Rising Sun Lodge and military honors provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars. Memorials are suggested to the Mapleton United Methodist Church or the Medicalodge Activity Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.