James O, “John” Clayton was born on September 10, 1929 in Caldwell County, Kentucky, the son of the late Robert Leonard Clayton and Frances Pearl Bridges Clayton. He graduated from Butler High School in Princeton, Kentucky in 1947 and then went on to attend Western State College (now Western Kentucky University) in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
He entered the US Army and served as a 1st Lieutenant in the Korean War in 1952 and 1953 where he was awarded the Bronze Star medal. Following his military service, John attended the University of Kentucky where he graduated in 1954 with degrees in art and music.
On January 28, 1956, John married Sally Jo Patton the daughter of William and Jean Patton from Louisa, Kentucky. On May 14, 1968, their only child, a son, John Bridges Clayton was born. John and Sally were divorced and he subsequently married Carolyn Steere.
For several years John taught art and music in the Franklin County, Kentucky schools. He then left the teaching profession and went on to sell insurance and real estate before settling into the textbook publishing business where he worked for 34 years.
Even though John had left the profession of teaching music, his love of music never waned. He remained actively involved in music up to his death. He played trombone with the Lexington Symphony Orchestra as well as many musical ensembles. He was director of the Frankfort Community Chorus, Shelby County Bicentennial Chorus, Franklin County High School Acapella Choir, Frankfort Drum and Bugle Corps, Frankfort First Presbyterian Church, Shelbyville First Presbyterian Church and Full Circle Singers.
In addition to his musical abilities, John was an accomplished painter. Among his many awards was winning the Purchase Prize at the Kentucky State Fair in 2007 and 2012, the Best in Show for the Louisville Women’s Club exhibit, first place in a Kentucky-Indiana Pastel Society show, first place in a Mammoth Cave Regional Art Show, and second place in the VA’s National Combat Veteran’s competition. As a supporter of community art, John was president of the Kentucky –Indiana Pastel Society, co-founder of the Shelby Artists on Main in Shelbyville, Kentucky, and was one of the founders of Paul Sawyier Galleries in Frankfort, Kentucky.
John was involved in several civic organizations including serving as President of the Frankfort Jaycees, state vice president, national director and member of Rotary Club in multiple cities, President of the Kentucky Educational Publishers, and a member of Shelby County UK Alumni Club, and two terms on the University of Kentucky National Alumni Board.
James “John” Clayton died on July 16, 2017 in Shelbyville, Kentucky. He was buried in the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Princeton, Kentucky.
Tombstone for James O. Clayton
LINEAGE: (James O, Clayton was the son of Robert Leonard and Frances Pearl Bridges Clayton, the grandson of Cornelius Neal and Emma Jean Sons Bridges, the great-grandson of William Joseph and Sarah Wills Bridges. William Joseph was the first child of Simco N. and Emeline Martin Bridges. Simco was the third child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges. William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges. Mary Thomas was the fifth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)
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