MEMPHIS, Mo. - John Delbert Clayton, 58, of Downing, Mo., passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2006, at the Scotland County Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Mo.

Graveside services will be held at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville, Mo. The Rev. Larry Smtih of the Downing Christian Church will officiate.

Aragements are under the direction of the Norman Funeral Home of Lancaster and Downing.

The son of Forest Alvie and Erma Alberta (Wilson) Clayton, he was born on April 22, 1948, in Iowa City. After his high school graduation, he joined the United States Navy. Following the time he spent in the Navy, he was employed as a road truck driver and worked for various trucking companies during this career.

On Dec. 31, 1999, he was united in marriage to Kathleen Ann Powell at the Downing Community Christian Church in Downing, Mo.

Survivors include his wife, Kathleen Ann Clayton of Downing, Mo., four children: Daryell Lee Clayton and wife, Carol, of Muscatine, David Rife and wife, Patty, of Iowa City, Nancy Briggs and husband, Steven, of Unionville, Mo., and Jennifer Smith and husband, Richard, of Downing, Mo.; one stepson, Brian Scott Powell of Wapello; four grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; three sisters, Patsy Johnson of Muscatine, Shirley Phillips of Moline, Ill., and Minnie Laymon and husband, Raymond, of Wapello; one brother, Forest Clayton and wife, Mary, of Wapello and one sister-in-law, June Clayton of Letts, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, six sisters, Forestine, Martha, Doris, Elaine, Lola and Nancy; one brother, Ralph (Bud) Clayton, and several nieces and nephews.

He was a member of the First Christian Church of Wapello.