William Edward Clayton

William Edward “Bill” Clayton, 91, of Danville, died Friday, September 13, 2019 in Bowling Green. He was born November 27, 1927 in Madisonville, Ky. to the late Raymond Turner and Gladys Lucille Smith Clayton. Bill was a longtime member of First Baptist Church, Danville and a graduate of Earlington High School, Earlington, Ky. He went to work as an underground coal minor the day he graduated from high school and he gave everyone a nickname, his was “Heavy Daddy.” He worked for Island Creek Coal Company for 35 years and retired as their Chief Electrician. Following his retirement he joined the Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals and retired as the Safety Director for the department. Bill was a member of the Masonic Lodge # 548 in Earlington and the Oleika Shrine Temple in Lexington. Bill was the widower of the late Geneva P. Clayton and every year for 33 years they went to Tavares, Florida in October and returned in April. Bill Loved to fish and to cook fish as much as anything in his life. He was awarded a plaque by the Boyle County Democratic Club for his many years of cooking the fish for their annual fish fry. He was happiest with his friends, children and grandchildren when he could fish fry with them. In addition to his beloved wife, Bill is predeceased by his brother Jim Clayton. Bill is survived by his son, Ray (Livia) Clayton of Bowling Green, a step-daughter, Janelle Bray (Sam) Ogle of Johnson City, Tenn.; a step son, Benny Bray of Jamestown, Ky.; two sisters, Mary Ann (Donald) Smith and Caroline Clayton, both of Earlington; two grandsons, Neal (Kara) Clayton and Will (Shelby) Clayton and their children, Gabe Clayton, Kennedy Clayton, Emmy Clayton, Jude Clayton and Eloise Clayton; four step-grandchildren, John Matteson, Logan Matteson, Leslie (David) Paduch and Kristin (John) Newman and their children, Allison Paduch and Jacob, Jonah and Owen Newman The funeral service will be at 1 p.m., Thursday, September 19, 2019 at Stith Funeral Home. Rev. Tim Mathis will officiate. Burial will be in Bellevue Cemetery. The active pallbearers will be Neal Clayton, Will Clayton, Logan Matteson, John Matteson, Chris Freeman David Paduch and Cleland “Shorty” Lottis. The honorary pallbearers will be Bill Castle, Tom Childers, Raymond Preston and Don Mize. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. Thursday until the service at 1 p.m. The online guestbook is available at www.stithcares.com Visitation: 11 - 1p.m., Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019 Stith Funeral Home, Danville Funeral Service: 1 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019 Stith Funeral Home, Danville