James Otto "Jim" Clayton, age 91, of Crainville, Illinois, passed away on April 14th, 2026, at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

He was born in Brazil, Indiana on February 2, 1935, to Arlie "Stu" and Grace E. Clayton.

Jim graduated Linton-Stockton High School in 1954 and retired from the United States Air Force (Technical Sargent). He served our country 1954-1974 during the cold war, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Korean War and the Viet Nam War.

Jim had a distinguished career in the Air Force and was dispatched to Ernest Harmon Airbase Stephenville, Newfoundland to support the first air refueling of B52 bombers. Next he went to Ben Gueir Airbase in Morocco to support the rotation of the B47 wing from Lockbourne to Morocco for Cold War deterrence.

Later posts took him to Chanute AFB (Rantoul, IL), Shephard AFB (Wichita Falls, TX), Yokota Air Base (Japan), Holloman AFB (Alamogordo, NM) and the US Embassy in London, England. In 1962 while in Japan, he had an assignment in Bangkock, Thailand to support a SEATO exercise “Air Cobra”.  While assigned to the Defense Attache Office at the US Embassy, Jim was a special military courier transporting documents to and from the NATO conference attended by Vice President, Hubert Humphrey and Secretary of State, Dean Rusk.

Jim was stationed at Michigan Tech University, Houghton, MI and then University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Il for Air Force ROTC programs. He became an Honorary Member of the Arnold Air Society for his work with the cadets at Michigan Tech. He spent his last year overseas at Kwanj-ju Airbase of South Korea.

While serving the United States Air Force, he was honored with the Joint Service Accommodation and the Air Force Accommodation medal.

He was a member of the Benton BPO Elks #1234, American Legion Post #280, and the Air Force Sargent Association.

Jim transitioned to his civilian career working for Old Ben Coal Company (18 years) as Warehouse Manager at Mine 21 & 26 (Sesser). He later worked for Shawnee Health Service (11 years) in the Black Lung Program and Respiratory Disease Program Director for the So. IL and So. IN.

Jim is survived by his wife of nearly 30 years, Dee; daughters, Vickie Golliher (David) and Jennifer Summers both of Benton, step-daughter, Dawn Jensen (Jon), of Spooner, WI; grandchildren: Nathan Golliher (wife-Aisha, daughter Carigon); Brooke Docherty (children Freya, Oliver); Abby Mocaby (Zach); Dani Summers; Scot Summers; Adam Jensen (wife Elaine, children Liam, Beau, Lucy, Beth); Wyatt Jensen; brother Arlie “Pete” Clayton (Debbie) and sister Joyce Hennette.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Arlie “Stu” and Grace E (Snyder) Clayton; his stepmother Edna Clayton and brother Charles Leonard Clayton who was killed in World War II and awarded the Purple Heart for his service.

Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home and Crematory, 301 South Main Street, Benton, IL.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL.

Funeral services will be held directly after the visitation on Friday, April 17, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at the Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL, with the Reverend Jesse Hinds, officiating. Military Honors will be performed by the United States Air Force Honors Team.

Following the funeral service, burial will take place in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery, Benton, IL

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials may be made to EMS -- Carterville Fire Department or to Veterans Honors Flight of Southern Illinois and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.