Dr. Lewis Ray Clayton, Jr., 82, of Irwin County, Georgia, died Sunday, February 7, 2021, at his residence.
The family will receive friends Thursday, February 11, 2021, from 1 PM until 2:30 PM at Satilla Baptist Church in Irwin County, Georgia. Graveside services will follow, with the Rev. William Pope and the Rev. Craig Barnette officiating.
Dr. Clayton was born November 22, 1938, in Los Angeles, California, to the late Lewis Ray Clayton, Sr. & Virginia Graber Clayton. He had twin siblings, Don and Donna, born in 1941 and a brother, Ted, born in 1943. He graduated from Hawthorne High School in Hawthorne, California, the same high school the Beach Boys attended, where he lettered in football and basketball and was a member of the Varsity Club and Student Council. In 1957, while a senior in high school, he was presented the coveted Citizenship Award by the faculty of the high school. Notably, his nephew, Ted Clayton, won the same award at the same high school in 1981.
After high school, Dr. Clayton attended El Camino Junior College in Los Angeles where he played on the basketball team. He interrupted his college for a stint in the United States Air Force. He was a medic and was sent to Albany, Georgia. It was there he met his future wife, Jackie Doyal. Ray worked at the base hospital and later had the rare privilege of helping to deliver his first-born child Richard. He and Jackie had two more sons: John and Thad and later Raye Ann. The family was now complete.
After military service, Dr. Clayton attended the University of Georgia obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology. He was accepted to the School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 1969 after an internship in Albany, Georgia. Then came two years of work for the late Dr. Clark Shingler of Ashburn. Dr. Clayton opened his practice in Ocilla, Georgia, Irwin Animal Clinic, in the summer of 1971 and lived in Ocilla ever since. He owned and operated Irwin Animal Clinic for 43 years.
Dr. Clayton was very active in civic and community work. He was a 37-year member and twice President of the Lions Club, Little League President for two years, and served on the Irwin County High School Vocational Advisory Committee for 25 years. He was an honorary member of FFA and 4-H for long-time service to the children’s programs in Irwin County FFA and 4-H.
He was a member of Satilla Baptist Church where he was a deacon and a former Sunday School teacher and choir member. Through the years, he enjoyed surfing in the Pacific Ocean, snow skiing, playing tennis, gardening, working in the yards, woodworking and traveling.
An interesting fact is that there are seven doctors in the Clayton family: Ray, Jackie, their four children and one daughter-in-law. Ray held a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, Jackie holds a Doctorate in Supervision, Reading, and Gifted Education, Richard holds a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine, John, an engineer, has a Doctorate in Boy Scouting, Thad holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Raye Ann holds a Doctorate in Audiology, and John’s wife, Andrea, holds a Doctorate from seminary in Bible studies. Dr. Clayton loved to tell the story that he and Jackie worked and financed 10 college degrees!
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jackie Clayton of Irwin County; his children: Richard Doyal Clayton of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, John Graber Clayton & Andrea of Texas, Thad Wilson Clayton & Ann of Ocilla and Raye Ann Clayton & Andy Barkin of California; eight grandchildren: Veronica Dorsey & Andrew, Angelica Clayton, Sam Clayton & Maddie, Joe Clayton, Maggie Clayton, Hannah Clayton, Quinna Barkin and Jack Barkin; two great-grandchildren: Kinsley and Adeline; a sister, Donna Kamiya & H.E. of California; and his brother’s wives: Dolly Clayton of Phoenix, Arizona and Joann Clayton of Los Angeles, California. Ray also leaves behind a host of beloved family in California and Arizona. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers: Don Clayton and Ted Clayton.