Services are 10:00 a.m. Thursday at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, Coal Valley, IL. Entombment will be at Calvary Mausoleum, Rock Island, IL. Visitation will be 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, 201 E. 4th Ave., Milan, IL, where a rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. Memorials may be made to the family to be designated later.

Clayton was born May 16, 1937, in Fayette County, IA, a son of Wilbur Thornton and Helen Peyer Thornton. He married Joean Evelyn Brasmer on June 24, 1961, in Moline, IL.

He was a typesetter for 43 years with Fullers Printing, Moline, IL, and Bawden Bros., Davenport, IA. He later was an STS driver for 12 years with Metro, and also was a school bus driver for many years.

Clayton was a member of St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church. He was a charter member of Court 1180, Independent Order of Catholic Foresters, where he served as Chief Ranger and Treasurer for several years.

He most enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather. His interests included extensive genealogy research, reading, gardening, yard work, and traveling with his wife, Joean.

Survivors include his wife, Joean, of Moline; children (and spouses), Susan (Don) Ward, Aurora, IL, Brian (Cori) Thornton, Rock Island, Rebecca (Keith) Holland, Altona, IL, Elizabeth (Jim) Jernigan, Coal Valley, and Michelle (Darwin) Ward, LeClaire, IA; grandchildren, Jessica (Eric) Knapp, Amy (Josh) Rudolph, Angel Thornton, Savannah Holland, Kendra Ward, Stephanie Ward, Keith (Shavonne) Holland, Jonathan Thornton, Shawn Downing, Ashley Ward, Ian Jernigan, Aubree Payne, Cassie Thornton, Danielle Ward, Derek Ward, Jim Jernigan Jr., Katie Holland, Sabrina Downing, Matthew Thornton, Sara Downing, Melissa Ward, Taylor Thornton, Dakota Thornton, and Izabel Jernigan; great-grandchildren, Drake Rudolph, Dylan Knapp, Landen Rudolph, Angelina Keifer, AlexZander Rudolph, Parker Holland, Owen Knapp, Trey Thornton, Embur Rudolph, and Walter McGill; special great-nephew, Ryan McMillan; brothers and sisters, Mary (Sylvan) Torkelson, Elgin, IA, James (Mary) Thornton, Millstadt, IL, Dawn (Tom) Cables, Westlake, OH, Keith (Brenda) Thornton, Waco, TX, Faye Thornton, Cleveland, OH, and Beverly (James) Dale, Dallas, TX; sister-in-law, Lila Thornton, Mukwonago, WI, and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Clayton is preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Gene Thornton.