Obituary of Dallas R. Clayton

Dallas Ralph Clayton was born to Bessie Marie (Williams) and Dallas LaVerne (Vern) Clayton on January 28, 1948, in Clarinda, IA.  He attended the one room school in Hepburn until the middle of 3^rd grade when they moved to Clarinda. He attended Clarinda through the middle of his junior year when they moved to Boone, IA. He graduated from Boone in 1966.  He married Susan L. (Susy) Boggess on June 14, 1969. To this union was born Troy Dallas on November 8, 1970, and Shelley Renee on January 15, 1974.

He joined the USAF in May of 1966 and was assigned to Andrews Air Force Base, MD as an operations specialist. He was transferred to Otis Air Force Base, MA to help recruit, train, and deploy a new wing to Korat, Thailand. The USAF 553^rd Reconnaissance Wing (Batcats) provided aerial views of war zones in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.

He then volunteered to fill a shortage in the 553^rd Reconnaissance Command Wing in Nakhon Phanom in Thailand and served there for 6 months. Returning to US, he served as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC} for pilot training squadron at Reese Air Force Base, TX.

At the end of his active duty, he received these awards: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Bronze Service Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Air Force Military Defense Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, and Major Air Command Wing Creation.

Following active duty, he joined USAF Guard at Lincoln, NE for 20 years as NCOIC in the medical hospital. During this service, he was awarded an associate’s degree in medical laboratory service. He was appointed to be in charge of the guard base human relations and drug usage prevention. He also received an associate’s degree in the Human Relations Field. At USAF Guard retirement ceremony, he received a Presidential Citation in Human Relations for his department being one of the top three air and guard bases in the continental USA.

So in total at retirement, he had 24 years of active and guard service combined. He was then called back to active duty after the 9/11 attack on the United States. He was stationed at Nebraska Air National Guard base in Lincoln, NE to support air police and base security for an additional 1.5 years. The Lincoln base is one of the few airstrips where the President’s plane can land in this country, and it was a base that provided refueling tankers that could refuel planes in midair. His duties also included counseling for guard members serving on the base.

Dallas enjoyed challenging and interesting university classes.  He attended the University of Nebraska in both Lincoln and Kearney.  He also attended Iowa State University.  He received a bachelor’s degree was in Animal Science and a master’s degree in School Counseling.  He had 12 teaching endorsements.

Dallas taught in several school curriculum areas and served as school counselor for over 15 years in Iowa and Nebraska. Serving as school counselor and helping young people get through personal rough spots and planning for their futures, he felt was his most rewarding endeavor.

Dallas was also a member of several organizations—The Villisca United Methodist Church, Page County Farm Bureau, Iowa Farm Bureau Young Member State Committee, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Lions Club.

Dallas was a supporter of working with and supporting people whenever possible—donating blood to the Red Cross, donating to and helping distribute the local Food Pantry. And helping others through benefits, donations, or support was important to him. He and Susy were foster parents in both Nebraska and Iowa for a number of years. And giving a home to rescue dogs was also a concern he undertook.

Dallas loved raising horses and colts most of his life.  He got his first horse for Christmas when he was in 4^th grade, and they were part of his life ever since then. He showed horses during his 4-H years and enjoyed riding on trails with Nodaway Valley ????? horse club and with family and friends. Later, his hobby turned toward raising mules—interesting and enjoyable.????

Reading was also a long-time joy for him. He also appreciated artwork and painting.  He enjoyed doing personal paint without actually being in a class, which he would have enjoyed doing.  But he produced some very good artwork that was framed for family enjoyment.

Another project he enjoyed was raising indoor birds—parrots, African Greys, cockatoos, macaws, and more. Plus feeding and watching outdoor birds year-round. Keeping track of all the variety of birds, numbers, and “quirkiness” was quite relaxing and entertaining.

Dallas and Susy assisted the Straits show movies in the Villisca Rialto on the weekends helping with the projector running up in the balcony, concessions, and billboards. He enjoyed stage plays and was involved in quite a few theatre productions.  He directed a number of high school plays and also took part as an actor, set creator, costumer, ticket sales, and more for the Villisca Theatre Company.

Dallas also enjoyed the beauty of flowers inside and out. Iris, peonies, and tulips were some of his outdoor favorites. Indoors he grew orchids, African violets, ferns, succulents, Christmas “cactus,” and more.

Raising fruit and making jams and preserves—raspberries, grapes, blackberries, apples, gooseberries—was also an activity he enjoyed and shared.

It was important to him being with friends and neighbors.  But most importantly, being with family--siblings, in-laws, “out-laws” and extended family was a blessing. His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren had a special place in his heart.

He was preceded in death by his parents Bessie and Vern Clayton and his mother-in-law and father-in-law Effie Lee and Jim Boggess, and brother-in-law Cliff McFarland.

Dallas is survived by his wife Susy of 55 years, his children, Shelley Clayton, and Troy (Cindi) Clayton; grandchildren, Grace Moheng, Gavin Moheng, Chelsey Kearney, and Paige Perdue; great-grandchildren, Kase Perdue and Whitney Perdue; brothers and sisters, Patricia McFarland, Cheryl Clayton, Rhonda Gregory, Greg Clayton, and Lisa & Jurgen Denk, aunts Mary Jo (Williams) Herzberg & Geraldine (Williams) O’Neal along with many other relatives and friends.