Lillian Marie Clayton

Lillian was born in Taylor, Texas and lived in that area through her childhood. She married James Clayton on May 14, 1955, and they celebrated their 70th anniversary this year. She was a faithful member of Hyde Park Baptist Church since that year.

She graduated valedictorian from Thrall High School. Then she worked her way through Nixon Clay Commercial College and was hired as a secretary for Ernest O. Thompson at the Texas Railroad Commission.

Lillian was the quintessential wife and mother. She ran the household and loved her kids and their friends - she was a surrogate mother to more than a few. She was always ready with a meal or a hot slice of her famous sourdough bread that she continually had on hand.

She had a large and varied number of interests and hobbies. Some were practical - like sewing and cooking. Some were beautiful - like gardening and occasional painting. Some were detail oriented - like US stamp collecting and genealogy. She was amazingly tolerant of the menagerie of odd pets her kids brought home - rats, crayfish, frogs, turtles, tarantulas, etc. - generally as long as they stayed in their cages.

Lillian loved nature - particularly gardening and birds. Her garden and yard were full of many carefully cultivated native plants. She had an encyclopedic memory of plant names and how to care for them.

She helped tremendously with her family’s periodic reunions and was the de facto genealogist for the family. Her record keeping was second to none.

She is survived by her husband, James Clayton, daughter Cynthia, son-in-law Brice, and their children Kathleen and Kelly Bartek. Also her son Robert, daughter-in-law Stacy, and their children Paige, Will, and Price Clayton.

She died peacefully after numerous health struggles and will be missed by the many people whose lives she touched.

A Funeral Service for Lillian will be held Thursday, September 18, 2025 from 10:00 AM at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78752. Following the Funeral, there will be a Graveside Service from 12:00 PM to 12:15 PM at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home & Cemetery, 14501 N Interstate Hwy 35, Pflugerville, TX 78660.