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- On April 20, 2018, J.R. (Jane Rhea) Hyder Clayton departed this material world to join again with her husband in heaven, Neville T. (Cowboy) Clayton.
Born in Elizabethton, Tenn., on December 2, 1930, she grew up in her Appalachian Mountain home. She thrived in Elizabethton while enjoying riding her horse along with spending many enjoyable moments with her precious dog, Skippy. J.R. developed pneumonia at the age of 5 and was the first to receive an O2 tank in her country home which saved her life. However, during this time of illness she was introduced to a world, miles away, called Daytona Beach when someone showed her a picture of a palm tree on a beach and never forgot this paradise. Once healed from this traumatic illness, J.R. attended elementary school and graduated from Elizabethton High School in 1948 where she was voted Senior Superlative Best Speaker. She went on to attend East Tennessee State University from 1948 to 1951, then graduated with a Medical Technology degree from Duke University in 1953.
J.R. started her career as medical technologist in Abingdon, Va., at Johnston Memorial Hospital from 1953 to 1955 but had her sights set on a warmer climate. She took a job at Halifax Hospital in Daytona Beach as Chief Technologist from 1955 to 1960. During this time she met 'The Most Eligible Bachelor from Daytona Beach' while skiing at Wilders Cut in 1955. Friends remember her as saying "That's the man I am going to marry!" So indeed, they married on September 28, 1956 at Calvary Baptist Church in Daytona Beach. She was a faithful choir member at Calvary from 1956 to 1963 when GOD led her to uncharted territory in South Daytona. From the Baptist Chapel in Daytona Beach, J.R. was involved in becoming a Charter Member of First Baptist Church of South Daytona in 1967. While being instrumental in birthing this new community church, she dove in to volunteering in the choir, teaching women's Sunday school classes, pulpit committee member, sanctuary building committee member along with numerous other committees. She was a faithful volunteer as long as the shrimp weren't running in the Halifax River. J.R. did not limit her volunteering activities to her church but to other avenues as well. She was a believer of the neighborhood school systems and was a strong opponent of school busing. She was a charter member of the first Volusia County Advisory Committee for the Volusia County School Board. She also served as chairman for this committee until terms were limited. (She claimed they limited terms because she 'worried' them)!
J.R. was awarded the honor of 'Lay Person of the Year' in 1987 by the local Phi Delta Kappa Chapter. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution at the Major Folsom Chapter in Elizabethton. She served on the South Daytona Elementary School Advisory Council. J.R. served on the State Textbook Council for the Social Studies until 2003 when loss of her sight prevented further service. J.R.'s loss of vision did not prevent her from serving the Lord in other capacities. She continued her service and passion for volunteering when she was chosen as Outreach Director for First Baptist Church of South Daytona. She was also the first Purple Hat recipient from the Women of Grace. Because she was a Charter member of her hometown church, she volunteered as church Historian for many years.
J.R. is predeceased by her husband, Neville (Cowboy) Clayton, of 62 years, and her dear sister, Dr. Marjorie Nelle Cardwell of Elizabethton. She leaves her devoted children, Becca, Preston, and Dorislyn along with numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other loving family members.
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Abt 1931 - 2018 (~ 87 years)
