Jack Clayton

Jack "J.B." Clayton (78), husband of Ruth Clayton and retiree of Phillips Petroleum Company, passed away on Sunday, August 7, 2011, at his home in Dewey, Oklahoma. A native Oklahoman, Jack was born in Wynona, Oklahoma on December 30, 1932. He was the son of Otis B. Clayton and Joshephine "Jack" (Deaton) Clayton. At the age of six years old, Jack and his family moved to Wann, Oklahoma, where he grew up and graduated high school in 1949. After high school, he became involved in the bakery business for a short time, and later attended Bartlesville Business College. At the age of 18, J.B. married the former Miss Ruth Key on December 21, 1951 in Dewey, at the First Christian Church. In 1952, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He received his basic training in San Diego, California and in 1955, he became a member of the fleet of the U.S. Navy/Marine Phoenix, as Yeoman 1st Class. J.B. was honorably discharged in 1956, after having served his Country during the Korean War. In 1956, J.B. briefly studied pharmacy at Kansas City University and in 1957 he returned home to become an employee of Phillips Petroleum Company in the Exploration & Production Department. Ruth was also an employee of Phillips in the Information Services Department. J.B. retired in 1986 after 29 years of loyal service. At the time of his retirement, he was Capital Budget Director of North America. After Jack and Ruth's retirement from Phillips, he opened an Accounting Service and later, he and Ruth opened an antiques store in Dewey. J.B. and Ruth were best friends. He was a great family man and was dearly loved by not only family, but by many close and loyal friends. J.B. was a member of the First Christian Church, Dewey, the church in which he was married and baptized. He was also a member of the Dewey Lions Club and an Elks Lodge member. For those who would like to remember J.B. with a charitable gift, the family suggests Elder Care, 1223 Swan Dr., Bartlesville, OK 74006 or to the charity of the donor's choice. Survivors include his wife, Ruth, of the family home; two children, Ben Clayton and his wife, Ann, of Houston, Texas, and Cathy (Clayton) Gage and her husband, Randall, of Temecula, California; two grandchildren, Jon Gage and his wife, Kitty, of Temecula, and Jared Gage also of Temecula; two great grandchildren, Rachel Gage and Gracie Gage of Temecula; two sisters, Betty Mead of Bartlesville, and Charolette Ford and her husband, Ron, of Lemmon, S. Dakota; several nieces and nephews; and a host of very dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ottis Clayton, Henry Paul Clayton and Wilbur Haskel "Hack" Clayton.

Service Details

Thursday, August 11th, 2011 10:00am, First Christian Church - Dewey

Interment Details

Dewey Cemetery