Bro. Clayton McClendon

Funeral services with military honors for Bro. Clayton McClendon, 88, of Lufkin will be held Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Ronnie Frankens, Brother Kevin Poage, and Grandson, Kyle McClure officiating. A private family burial will be held in the Fairview Cemetery.

Bro. Clayton was born January 27, 1937 in Lufkin, Texas to the late Kyle Victoria (Massingill) and Theria Lawrence McClendon, and died Friday, May 30, 2025 at his residence.

Clayton lived his earthly life with a kingdom purpose and perspective. Born in Lufkin, raised in Diboll, Texas, he knew East Texas and the surrounding areas would be the beneficiaries of his life’s work. He loved his childhood of freedom in the countryside of the Fairview/Burke area. He attended the 1 room Fairview School that was established in the 1890’s and is today a Texas Historical Designation and is the home of Grace Tabernacle Church, a church of which he was a founding pastor.

At the young age of 9 God tugged on the heartstrings of this country boy and by the ripe age of 11 he had preached his first sermon. He continued a lifelong love and understanding of God’s word and was constantly reading and studying the Bible with a voracious appetite. His calling from God was so sure, so pure and so strong, that he never stopped preaching and teaching the authentic gospel of Christ. At the age of 18 he served our country by joining the U.S. Navy, was stationed on the USS Comstock at the main base in Japan, as well as Seoul Korea, Hong Kong, Philippines and Eastern Islands.

He married his beloved wife of 67 years, Mary Wood McClendon and united in love they would forge a path of excellence and compassion as they were the hands and feet of Jesus, while serving the wonderful people of East Texas and surrounding areas. Not only did Clayton preach and teach at countless churches, two of which he founded. But together, with his wife and four daughters he ministered to the needs of innumerable people through funerals, marriages, jail house ministry, tent revivals, radio programming at KRBA and KTRE, Mission trips to Russia, Honduras and South America, ending formal ministry as Senior/Hospitality Ministry at Clawson Assembly of God.

As a quiet and unassuming man whose life itself spoke volumes, he was an impactful powerhouse preacher, who also used his beautiful voice to sing the praises of his King with such life force that you couldn’t easily forget his sermons or songs. All the while he found time to be a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, caring brother and compassionate friend. After working all day in the East Texas heat as one of the finest artisans of sheetrock, he would then come home to his family and plow/raise a garden, teaching the fundamentals of gardening and the enriching life of a strong faith, every step of the way to his daughters.

Clayton was the epitome of a good shepherd to his flock. He cast a wide net and attended to the needs of his congregants, community and family. His path in life was illuminated by his integrity, humility, compassion, love, respect, peace and unwavering faith. He was the anchor of strength for his family. If you had the pleasure of knowing Clayton, he prayed for you. If you came in contact with Clayton by happenstance or through ministry or him humming a tune on his job site or just passing through life, he prayed for you. He started and ended his days with prayer and reading the Bible for the entirety of his life. He lived his life with Godly wisdom and clarity of his calling. But most importantly, he lived his life in the shadow of the Cross, for he knew that was where the living water flowed that sustained him until the day he drew his last breath.

Survivors include his daughters and sons-in-law, Deana and Roger McClure of Diboll, Darla and Ricky Thigpen of Lufkin, Robin and Brad Peek of Coppell, and Connie Hardy of Chandler, Arizona; eight grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law, R.D. and Joan McClendon of Lufkin; sister, Donnie Nixon of McKinney; sister-in-law, Donna McClendon of Lufkin; and numerous other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 68 years, Mary E. McClendon; sisters, Delma Fae and Yonnie Dixon; and brothers, Gary McClendon and G.D. “Sonny” McClendon.

Pallbearers will be Brandon Peek, Jacob Thigpen, Zachary Thigpen, Aaron Grappe, Leighton Pounds, and Joshua Fowler.

Honorary pallbearers will be his granddaughters, Suni Fowler, Bethany Pounds, Tori Grappe, and Olivia Hardy.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday morning prior to the service.

Memories and condolences may be added, and live webcasting of the services may be viewed, at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.