Clayton, Donald E. “Don” Thursday, January 8, 2026. Beloved husband of Vicki Clayton (nee Brandt). Dear father of Ben (Katie) Clayton, Adam (Nicci) Clayton and Julie (Brad) Kukurza. Dear grandfather of Owen, Grace, Ella, Sienna, Easton, Summer, Jocelyn, Stephen and Aaron. Dear brother of Pat (Ken) Nienkamp, Larry (Donna) Clayton, Ken (Lisa) Clayton, Rick (Rosalie) Clayton, Dave (Sue) Brandt, Mark (Kathy) Brandt, Karen Galen and Lisa (Bob) Clancy. Dear son-in-law of Marilyn Clayton. Lifelong friend of Tony Schmitz. Our dear uncle, great uncle and friend.
Funeral from Kutis South County Chapel 5255 Lemay Ferry Rd. Thursday, January 15, 9:15 am to Sacred Heart Church (Valley Park) for 10:00 am Mass. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions to St. Vincent de Paul Society appreciated. Visitation Wednesday 4-8 pm.
We send all our love and extend our deepest sympathy to you, Vicki, and your entire family. We will strive to pay forward Don’s extraordinary legacy of kindness, good humor and exceptional humanity as our way of honoring him..
What a loss! Look at that smile. A life well-lived.
So very sorry for your loss to all of your family – prayers…
So very sorry for your loss Vicki. Always warm memories of the two of you together. Rest in peace Don.
Vicki-We are so sorry to hear the news of Don’s passing. I am sending our deepest sympathy to you and your entire family.
I was so saddened to hear the news about Don. It’s been a privilege to call him a friend, along with you, Vicki. Please accept my sincere condolences. I’m praying that memories of happier times will comfort you all during the difficult days ahead.
Vicki Im so sorry for the loss you and your family have endured.
I know that you have the greatest treasures in all the memories the two of you created. May you find peace knowing Don is at his eternal home.
Don you were a great human being.
Rest in Peace
Sheila (Brawley) Huffman
Please accept my deepest condolences for the loss of Don. I had the pleasure of meeting and working with him at Washington University. Don was a talented colleague and a terrific human being.
May he rest in peace.
Ann Prenatt
Vicki,
Pat and I want to express our deepest sympathies to you and your family. I always felt that Don had a gracious and kind demeanor. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Don was terrific and always supportive and a smiling face when I saw him on campus. He made WashU better by him being there.
My deepest sympathies to Don’s family. I worked with Don at WashU medical school for a number of years and always relied on his warmth, knowledge and fishing stories to make the days go well. He will be missed at Hargrove’s for sure.
Don was a kind soul, great colleague and true professional. Always with a smile on his face, it was truly a pleasure working with Don or better yet just being around Don! He always lit up when I asked about Vicki, Ben, Adam, and Julie! I can only imagine the love he showered on those grandkids! Vicki, Ben, Adam, and Julie, my deepest condolences, and please remember all the great times you shared. He touched many lives for the better and will be sorely missed.
Vicki and family, so sorry with heartfelt condolences. Your N.D family has you in our prayers during this difficult time. Hold on to the memories and always remember his smile!
What a wonderful man. Fishing buddy, camp chef (not cook) Chef! Knowledgeable on many subjects especially Rivers and Streams and the flys that are needed. So proud to call him my friend. RIP Don You will be missed
Dear Vicki & Family,
Please accept our deepest sympathy on the passing of Don. He was always a nice, patient man who loved supporting his children at their church, school, and sporting events. Don enjoyed sharing his outdoor fishing and hunting experience especially with the Boy Scouts. He made the world a better place to live. May he rest in peace in Heaven. God bless Don and his family!
I was so lucky to have Don as my boss when I worked at Washington University School of Medicine in the 1990s. He was gentle and good-humored, and even insisted on taking turns to clean the office refrigerator. I’m so sorry, Vicki. You and Don were an inspiration to all of us.
Dear Vicki,
Tim and I are holding you and your family in our prayers. May you be supported by your deep faith and many warm memories.
Dear Vicki, I am so sorry about the loss of your beloved husband Don. Don was a beloved member of the Washington University family. His intellect, writing, communication, mentoring and support for faculty and staff are renowned. He was always warm, caring, available and a joy to work with. He made everything he touched better and helped us all through the good news and the bad. We will keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers during this sad time.
Dearest Vicki and family
We were so saddened to hear of Don’s passing. Please accept our deepest sympathies. We have so many wonderful memories of time spent with Don and your family on the soccer field and all the fun times at Assumption as our families were growing up. You and Don were an amazing team—full of faith , joy, and love. You raised an amazing family. Don’s legacy will live on through your children and beautiful grandchildren. Hugs and prayers dear friend. We love you!
Paul and Cindy Hartwig
Aww, what a dear friend. Warm. Kind. Amazing ability to listen. Sad.
I was one of Don’s nurses. I only had him for a short stent but through that it was clear he was an amazing person. He had relentless positivity and talked lots about old fishing trips with friends, love for his family, and love for his wife ‘who he’s known forever.’ Something about his personality just made you feel connected to him instantly. I’m glad I got to know Don. He will not be forgotten.
A truly fine man who will be missed….peace. Mickey and Lou Jobst
Thinking of you Vicki –
wanted to send my personal sympathy and prayerful support.
May Don REST IN PEACE….and
peace and blessings to you.
Msgr. Norb Ernst
My deepest condolences to Vicki, Adam, and family. May he rest free of pain, carrying a lifetime of shared memories in his heart.
Dear Vicki, My deepest sympathies to you & your family on the loss of Don. I was so sorry to read about his passing. There really are no words during this difficult time, however, I just wanted you to know I care & will keep you in my prayers.
So sorry to learn of Don’s passing. Sending hugs to you, Vicki, and the entire family. We have memories of Don’s gentle demeanor during our Assumption years. Keeping you in our prayers.
May Don rest in peace. May you be confined by the memories.
God be with your family.
Dear Vicki and your wonderful family, my condolences on the loss of Don. I had the great pleasure of working with him as a colleague where I got to see how effective he was in his university role and enjoy his sense of humor. I considered him a cherished friend. Washington University was very fortunate to have him! May his memories keep you centered at this difficult time.
So sorry for your loss! Don was a wonderful person to work with at Washington University. He was always very supportive of me and our department. A great person, colleague and friend.
Don was one of the most thoughtful and genuinely kind prople that I have ever known. He embodied wisdom, generosity, and integrity. He mixed all of this with a great sense of humor. Don was loyal, hard-working, and a source of great advice, support, and friendship. I will miss him.
Vickie
Please accept our deepest sympathy to you and your family on your devastating loss. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Don was a great guy who always had a smile or a kind word and he will be missed.
Don was such a wonderful AAMC GIA colleague. He was always happy to talk through an issue at another institution & always had great guidance. I most admired his approach to retirement of having a “plan” for the first year. Don was a very good man in all aspects of his life. Thoughts & prayers are with his family.