Gary was born to Everett and Elaine (Peterson) Clayton on August 7, 1946 in Cedar Rapids, IA. He grew up in Cedar Rapids and Dallas, TX, where he moved with his family when he was 10 years old. After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas, Gary enlisted in the Air Force on September 13, 1967. He served as a member of the Air Force Security Police during the Vietnam War, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. After his honorable discharge, Gary returned to Dallas where he worked as a truck driver delivering wine and spirits to retail stores. He was a member of Walnut Hill Lutheran Church in Dallas, where he served by donating the wine used for communion services. He was a devoted son, caring for his mother in her later years. He enjoyed telling jokes, traveling and watching the Dallas Cowboys play football.
Gary was recently predeceased by his sister, Lloydine Clayton Vinyard. He is survived by cousins Denise Polson of Lincoln, NE and Curtis Peterson of Omaha, NE, brother-in-law Jerry A. Vinyard of Austin, nieces Paulina Harper (husband Andrew) of Spring, TX and Rebecca Vinyard (husband Filippo Liverini) of Austin and nephew Andrew Vinyard (wife Jennifer) of Austin.
In lieu of flowers, Gary’s family requests donations in his memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or to the Texas Veterans Commission’s Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (FVA).
