Clayton Hill

Clayton Robert Hill, 83, of Columbia, went to be with our Heavenly Father on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, at his residence, after a long, courageous battle with cancer. Born in Carthage, Mo., on September 19, 1929, to Clayton G. and Georgia (Janney) Hill. Clayton graduated high school in Excelsior Springs, Mo., then graduated with a bachelor's degree in industrial arts with a minor in mathematics, from Southwest Missouri State in Springfield in 1952. He married Jeanette Miller on November 29, 1951. She survives of the home. As a young man, Clayton enjoyed woodworking and working with the Boy Scouts, serving as Cub Master and then Scout Master. Clayton worked for the Missouri Highway Department, supervising surveying crews and working in all aspects of highway and bridge construction. Upon moving to Columbia, Clayton began working for M & M Highway Materials as an engineer estimator. He then worked for Ballenger Construction, Central Bridge, and finally APAC, retiring in 2011. Clayton was a member of Memorial Baptist Church, serving on the Long-Range Planning Committee which was instrumental in building the education building and the new sanctuary. He was also a deacon and long-time member of the choir, with his rich, tenor voice. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, helping anyone in need, and hugging all the ladies. Clayton especially enjoyed travel, visiting all 50 states in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Holland, and Austria. Clayton will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by one son, Carl; two daughters, Nancy (David) and Mary (Tim); grandchildren, Jet (Michael), Holly, Nathan, Stacy, Kellie, and Conner; honorary grandchildren, Kaili, Susan, Tyler, and Alice; great-grandchildren, Tucker and Jagger; and sisters, Betty (Paul) and Christie (Alan); brother-in-law, Ed; numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of wonderful friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Fannie. Visitation will be from noon until the time of service on Tuesday, December 18, 2012, at 2 p.m., at Memorial Funeral Home, Columbia, Mo. Graveside service will be on Wednesday, December 19, 2012, at 2 p.m., at Park Cemetery in Carthage, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, Habitat for Humanity, or St. Jude Children's Hospital. Online tributes may be left at www.memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com