Rebecca "Becky" June Clayton

With gratitude and admiration, we announce that our beloved mom, Rebecca June Shankster Clayton, passed peacefully and joyfully into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on 21st of May, 2024, following a devastating fall in April.  Becky was born the 4th of February, 1934, in Alvordton, OH, to Owen and Mildred Shankster, the baby of four. 

Becky was advanced scholastically being an avid reader; she passed over 5th grade and graduated valedictorian.  She married Daniel Clayton.  They served their first two years together in Puerto Rico with Brethren Volunteer Service, returning with the first of their four daughters, Merinda “Rindy.”  They settled in Fairmont, WV, to raise their growing family of Carol, Janet, and Kathy.

Becky was a “Jill of All Trades” with the gift of service.  She was a very hard worker, maintaining large gardens to feed the family, canning and freezing, and selling the extras; she was the family’s beautician and seamstress, making most of the family’s clothing, including her own wedding dress. Having gotten saved at 8 years of age, and living for the Lord since, she was very involved with all of her churches; she taught all ages of Sunday School, played piano and directed music and choir, VBS, church camps (with little tots in tow), and was the craft queen.  Her home crafts also included quilting and crocheting.  Her skills were taught to her children as well.  She was a prolific poem writer.  When Rindy started college, Becky also wanted to give that a try, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Daniel; daughter Carol Sullivan-Trippett and her husbands Jim Sullivan and Jim Trippett, and grandson Jimmy Sullivan; her siblings with spouses, Emma Fae “Pesky” (Frank) Kalder, Owen “Bud” and Richard “Dick” (Ruth) Shankster; brother-in-law, Dorsey Clayton and nephew Tim Clayton; and other nieces and nephews.

She is survived by daughters Rindy Clayton, Janet Clayton, and Kathy (William) Higgs; granddaughters Raye Sullivan-Trippett and husband Drew Williams, Sara Higgs, Jennifer (Travis) Mullins, and grandson Daniel (Taylor) Higgs; great-grandchildren Vivienne and Gwendolyn Mullins, and Hadley, Parker, and Owen Higgs; sisters-in-law, Celia (Bud) Shankster, Rosalea (Dorsey) Clayton, and nephew David Clayton; and many other nieces and nephews.

Becky was a humble, loving, faithful child of God who would be embarrassed to know that we passed on so much “hoop la” about her.  Her earthly tent was cremated by Barlett Funeral Home of Grafton and interred privately at Shiloh Church of the Brethren Cemetery, but a celebration of her life will be held at Southern Baptist Church of Philippi (19969 Barbour County Hwy, on Route 250), Philippi, WV, on the 23rd of June 2024, at 3pm.  Please join us and bring your stories to share. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Camp Hope c/o Jackie Henderson, 32 Snowball Bush Ln, Fairmont, WV 26554, or to Heifer International (begun by the Church of the Brethren), 1 World Ave., Little Rock, AR 72202, or to the charity of your choice. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.bartlettfuneralhomewv.com Bartlett Funeral Home is honored to serve the Clayton family.

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