James Thomas “J.T.” Clayton

James Thomas “J.T.” Clayton, 97, died Tuesday, August 18, 2009, in Amarillo.

Services were held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, August 22, 2009, in the First United Methodist Church in Memphis. Burial was held at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Mr. Clayton was born October 24, 1911, in Weatherford, Texas, to Samuel and Mary Spann Clayton. He married Mildred Brame on January 7, 1937, in Amarillo. He had been a resident of Memphis most of his life. He was a foreman for 67 years at the Memphis Compress. While in high school, he was a state tennis champion and played 276 matches in one day. He was avid golfer and volunteered with the Memphis Little League and Boy Scouts. He achieved the Outstanding Older Worker of Texas Award in 2002. He was also a very active member in the Memphis Fire Department where he was a member for 50 years and served as Chief for 14 years.
He was also active in the Memphis Rotary Club and served in every office and held a regional office as well. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Memphis where he also served as a Sunday school teacher for many years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother; and five sisters.

Survivors include his wife, Mildred Clayton of Memphis; a son, Dwight Clayton and wife Linda of Memphis; two daughters, Elaine Potter and husband Doug of Houston and Diane Conatser and husband Johnny of Memphis; seven grandchildren, Vickie Weber and husband Bill, Russell Potter and wife Erin, Brian Clayton and wife Melissa, Brett Clayton and wife Felisha, Jason, Bradley, and Skyler Conatser; five great grandchildren, Travis, Courtney, and Amanda Weber, Jaycee Conatser, and Kayla Clayton.

The family requests memorials be to the Experience Works, Inc., 800 Washington Ave. Suite 100, Waco, Texas 76701; Memphis Volunteer Fire Department; or the Northwest Texas Heart Hospital.

Sign our online guestbook at www.RobertsonFuneral.com.