Doris L. Clayton - Knoxville

Doris Louise Clayton died peacefully August 10, 2013 at Park Lane Memory Care in Knoxville, Iowa. Doris was born November 5, 1924 in Grimes, Iowa and was the daughter of Ralph and Maggie Leonard. On December 5, 1942 she was united in marriage to Max Conrad Clayton in Princeton, Missouri. They were married 64 years. Doris and Max raised their family on a farm near Elmore, Minnesota. Doris always worked alongside Max, helping in the field and with the chores. Doris' family was always the most important part of her life. She was a wonderful cook and seamstress, teaching her daughters how to sew. Doris could make the most mundane work seen like fun by singing songs and playing games. Doris loved to make quilts, making over 100 full sized ones, as well as many baby quilts. It has been said that the quilts were really warm since they had been made with so much love! In 1970, Doris and Max moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where she worked at Herberger Fabrics and Continental Western Insurance Company. They moved to Adel, Iowa in 1980, where she worked at Ben Franklin. In 2007, they moved to Knoxville, Iowa. Doris is survived by daughters, Maxine (Max) Wensel, Linda (Denny) Larsen, and son, Jerry (Lynn) Clayton; grandchildren, Jason (Melissa) Clayton, Jeremy (Kelly) Clayton, Lisa Starr, Kris (Andy) VanDyne, Lori (Paul) Smith, Tammy Coffman; fourteen great grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; two brothers and two sisters. Doris was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Max, an infant son, grandsons, Jim Coffman and Justin Clayton, three brothers and three sisters. A celebration of life and funeral service will be 11 AM Saturday, August 17, 2013 at the United Methodist Church in Adel. Family will greet friends for an hour prior to services. Burial will follow at the Clayton Cemetery near Van Meter, Iowa. Memorial contributions may be made in Doris' memory to Park Lane Memory Care or The Compassionate Friends. Online condolences may be left on this site. Service: 11:00 AM Saturday, August 17, 2013 United Methodist Church Adel, Iowa Visitation: Family will greet friends from 10:00 AM Saturday until services. United Methodist Church Adel, Iowa