William Lewis Clayton

He was born in Richmond, TX, February 10, 1930, to Kathrine Ruth Clayton and Jessie Clayton, along with his sister Martha during the beginning of the worst economic depression in our history. His Father, Jessie, was tragically killed in a car wreck in 1934. Bill graduated from the University of Houston with a BS in electrical engineering in 1950. Bill married Vivian Davis in 1952 in Avon, MS, after a several year courtship in Houston, TX.

He hired on with United Gas Pipeline in 1950 and worked there for the next 42 years. As they grew and changed as a company to Entex, NorAm and eventually to CenterPoint Energy, during the greatest economic expansion in US history. His career was distinguished, and he rose to various executive positions including Vice President of engineering and operations, data management, and personnel. He also served in leadership positions for the American Gas Association, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the National Association of Corrosion Engineers. One of his favorite memories was traveling with Vivian to speak and share with Tokyo Gas in Japan, the successful data management practices of Entex. He loved the people he worked with and fondly recalled many great stories about them during his career.

His personal life was centered on family. Vacations all revolved around visiting one side of the family or the other. There were many memorable trips visiting Vivians family in Avon, MS, as well as visiting Martha and husband Buddy at their ranch in San Marcos, TX and home in Blanco, TX. Bill had wonderful memories of fishing and hunting with his family during these trips. Holiday celebrations were always with family and involved great cooking by both his mother and mother in-law. He coached and supported many little league and girls softball teams and was an active booster in his children's high school sports teams.

Bill is survived by his sister, children, and grandchildren. His surviving sister is Martha Bethke, a retired school principal and her children Bruce and Eric. His surviving children include: William Larry Clayton, a Finance Graduate of Sam Houston University and wife, Kathy; Susan Victoria Clayton an education Graduate of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, a retired coach and teacher; and Mark Davis Clayton a graduate of the University of Texas and retired engineering manager. His surviving grandchildren include: William Clayton, a mechanical engineering graduate of Oklahoma State University; Austin Clayton, a corrosion specialist Graduate of Kilgore College; Ross Clayton a graduate of UTI and plant operator for ARAWEOPCO; Trevor Clayton an Economics Graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder employed at on outdoor equipment manufacturer Exxel Outdoors; Angela Clayton Graduated with a Masters Degree in Chemistry from Baylor University, a teacher in Killeen ISD; and Audrey Balentine a high school Junior at College Park in The Woodlands.

Bill's collection of friends and family, new and old, came from all walks of life. Each friend he made was considered part of a collection on par with the Louvre or National Gallery of Art. In making friends he did not regard their social status, the color of their skin, or gender. He valued family, resilience, compassion, and the ability to appreciate the distinction between good fortune and hard work for his friends. If you were his friend, you were part of this type of famous collection, and we will miss his ability to bring such amazing people together.

A Graveside Service will be held 3:00 PM Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at Morton Cemetery, 401 N Second Street, Richmond, TX 77469 . After the graveside service,  there will be a brief memorial service beginning at 4:30 PM followed by a time of Visitation until 6:30 PM at Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors Chapel, 1201 Fourth Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471 .

Serving as Pallbearers will be William Ellis Clayton, Ross Clayton, Bruce Bethke, Trevor Clayton, Dan Creedon, and Tom Weber.

Memorial Donations may be given in his memory to American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692 or online at www.heart.org, or to Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation of Texas, 1442 Kingwood Drive, #241, Kingwood, TX  77339.

Condolence messages may be written for the Clayton family at www.garmanycarden.com

Services are under the direction of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, 1201 Fourth Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471 (281)342-4671.