Helping Families and Friends Honor Their Loved One

Gail Edgar Clayton, age 69

Gail Edgar Clayton, Hark the Angels welcomed one of their own this week, joined her Savior on the 23rd of November 2020, after a courageous 20-year battle with cancer.

Gail was one of the most positive and loving of people. Her smile and infectious laughter made any space she entered lighter and brighter. If you had met Gail as a stranger, you left her numbered among her friends.

She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Raymond Clayton, and her son, Randy Clayton. Survivors include her sisters and 1 brother, Brenda Kent/ Kathy Hayden/ Rick Edgar. A second brother, Randy Edgar joins her parents on the welcoming committee. Numerous nieces and nephews and a multitude of friends mourn her passing.

Gail’s main interests were her churches, (Holy Souls and St Leo’s), her faith, her home, family and friends and travel which took her and Raymond all over the globe. Gail served several times as President of the Catholic Business Women’s Club among other volunteer efforts.

Father Ernest Hardesty will officiate at the services. “Father Earnie” met the Claytons as a young priest and has been a “member of the family” ever since.  There are people who leave their mark on this world by their intellect or generosity or leadership – Gail did all this and more. She moved through this world with a smile and a heart filled with love. What more can We aspire to in our time here?

She is now in a better place, one without illness or pain.  We Celebrate her life and will miss her like crazy.  With so much sympathy and mutual pain, Sheila and Richard

Memorial service will be on Saturday, November 28, 2020 at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church, 1003 North Tyler Street, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Arrangements are entrusted to A Natural State Funeral Service, 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas. 501-982-3400

13 Comments

  • Barbara Blaes Posted November 26, 2020 9:50 AM

    What an inspiration Gail has been to all who knew her. She had a special gift of gathering people around her to share her life and theirs. Her faith sustained her throughout her years battling cancer. She is now at peace and is resting in the arms of the Lord. God bless her!

  • Jim & Kay Tribo Posted November 26, 2020 11:48 AM

    May Gail and all of the souls of the faithful departed, rest in peace. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

  • Annette V Gary Posted November 26, 2020 12:02 PM

    I met Gail when I joined Catholic Business Women. Later, when I became President, Gail was very helpful as my advisor and assistant as I began my new role. I will miss her laugh and her stories.You fought a good fight Gail, now it is time for you to rest.

  • Phyllis Perry Brents Posted November 27, 2020 8:03 AM

    Gail and I worked together many years ago at First National Bank in Little Rock. She was cute, vivacious, and had a raucous laugh that encouraged others to join in. In recent years, as often as she felt well enough and was in town, she joined the 81-10ers at quarterly luncheons. We will miss her, and my sympathy to Raymond, her family, and friends. She was a presence.

  • Ruthie Holland Posted November 27, 2020 10:54 AM

    Brenda, Kathy and family,

    I was saddened to read of Gail’s death in today’s paper.
    Will always remember her great laugh and her hugs when I ran into her through the years…like she had been waiting all day to see me!

    Sending you all my deepest sympathy,
    Ruthie Huncke Holland

  • Linda Byrne Posted November 27, 2020 12:34 PM

    Gail will be missed by so many. She truly was a dynamic person with many friends! I met Gail in the fall of 1968 – when I attended one of her infamous after football game parties. Didn’t see her again until time to start planning for the 1969 MSM/CHS 10 year class reunion. She and the other committee members planned an awesome reunion and had so much fun in the planning that they decided to have a reunion every 5 years going forward. Gail continued to be a driving force for each one of those reunions through #50 held in October of 2019 – even though she was fighting her cancer for the last 7 reunions. She will certainly be missed if there is a Reunion #55.

  • Brenda Young Posted November 27, 2020 12:46 PM

    Gail was so very kind to me when I worked at Star Bolt and Screw when they were in Little Rock. I loved to hear her laugh.

  • RoseAnne Smith Posted November 27, 2020 2:54 PM

    Gail, your footprints have made our world a better place. Rest In Peace my friend.

  • Alesa Garner Posted November 27, 2020 7:08 PM

    Gail was such a bright source of light during her ovarian cancer journey. She was brave and courageous. She was an important supporter of AROVCC and we will surely miss her. Peace to the family and those who loved her

  • LEANN EDWARDS Posted November 27, 2020 7:29 PM

    I knew Gail for many years through both her husband and her dear childhood friend. Her husband, Raymond, is from my hometown and was close to our family, especially my cousin, David Kersh. Gail and Raymond both were so loving and generous with David throughout his life. Gail also grew up across the street from a dear college friend, Debbie Obsitnik Manasco. Gail was just as described, loving, friendly, generous, genuine and easy to love. She will be missed by many. She deserves this heavenly rest. She took a contagious laugh and a heart as big as her smile with her. Gail was a special person and fought for her life, her friends and her family for 20 years. She was determined and persistent. I, along with many, will miss her presence.

  • LuAnn Penland Posted November 28, 2020 10:46 AM

    Gail was such a special woman. We worked together in banking. I loved her 💗

  • Peggy A. Howell Posted November 30, 2020 8:16 PM

    No was an inspiration to all good had the pleasure to know her. Of course she was one of my classmates from 1969 and had many a joyous gathering at her house after football game and whatever other excuse that we could fine to go visit her. May God hold you in his loving arms as we will hold you in our loving memory

  • Susan A Rodriguez Posted December 6, 2020 4:58 PM

    Raymond, I am sending our condolences from your Florida family — Bobby and Esther Clayton, his daughters, Diana and Jan, and myself, Susan Clayton Rodriguez (daughter of Garland Lee Clayton). We are sincerely sorry for your loss and are praying for the repose of Joan’s soul and the grief you and your son now face. My father and Uncle Bobby have always kept the Arkansas family in awareness to their children. We grieve for your beloved wife.

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