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After a couple of years of deteriorating health, Clayton James Klein succumbed and died approximately 1:30 pm Wednesday October 12, 2022 at home in Carney Oklahoma.
Clayton is survived by his wife of 57 years, Deani Irene Kennedy Klein of the home, his daughter Jamie Barnes Saxon & her husband Jason of Wellston Oklahoma, his son Corby Lance Klein and wife Sanya of Fowlerton, Texas, son Brandon Kelly and wife Tiffany of Fredericksburg, Texas. Clayton’s surviving Grandsons, Cody Barnes of Chandler, Oklahoma, Tyler Barnes & wife Tarranda of Wellston, Oklahoma, Ross Barnes & wife Ashley of Crescent, Oklahoma, Tyler McWilliams of Fredericksburg, Texas, Dalton Sembritzky of Harper Texas, Jonathan Saxon of Midwest City, Oklahoma, Jacob Saxon of Chandler, Oklahoma, Joshua Saxon of Chandler, Oklahoma and Jaxon Saxon of Wellston, Oklahoma. Sister Esther Everett of Bandera, Texas.
Clayton is survived by 9 great grandchildren, Brinley Barnes, Neveah Barnes, Baylor Barnes, Diana Barnes, Wesley Barnes, Kadryn Sembritzky, Landon Saxon, Thea Barnes & Kinsley Barnes. Nieces & Nephews, Herbert DeDe and Debra Kelsay, Bill & Diane Crain, Jerry & Susan Neuenschwander, Zane & Jane Everett, Byron Klein & Darin Klein and close family Kenneth & Darlene Kennedy, JB & Kay Kennedy and his beloved dog Minnie and many great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
Clayton was born in Fredericksburg Texas and was preceded in death by his parents Alfons & Meta Klein and brothers Kenneth Otto Klein and Rudy Edgar Klein. Clayton spent the majority of his early life growing up in Fredericksburg Texas on the family farm near Tivydale where he learned to love hunting & fishing that were a lifelong passion. Clayton graduated from Fredericksburg “Billies” High School in 1959. During high school Clayton played competitive Tennis and won many trophies & matches. He also discovered his love of baseball and was known as the “guy to watch out for” as he couldn’t be shut down when it came to hitting homeruns off any pitcher. He could bat left-handed & right handed and when the need arose he would just switch to the other side so the pitcher never could get honed in on how to keep him from smashing the ball. He was either force walked, or he took a small jog around the bases because he was going to slam it over the fence. Clayton was also known for his ability to play any position and play it at exceptional level, but he was best known for his “lefty” pitching and could shut down a batter more often than not. He eventually went on to play for the Kerrville Indians a farm team of the Texas Ranger and was very well known across the baseball family. Due to a previous shoulder injury while playing Tennis in high school he was never able to go the higher level, but he was happy where he was and played until he no longer could. He then moved to some co-ed Softball and Fast Pitch teams, playing & coaching from time to time where his wife Deani and daughter Jamie were able to play on a couple of teams. He even excelled at that and coached the “Gatti’s Girls” women’s team to many victories & trophies. There was not a sport that Clayton attempted that he did not master.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and his love of that he turned into trophies & profit when he out fished many a guy in the Pro-Bass association fishing tournaments. He could aggravate anyone that chose to fish with him. Many a co-fisherman would say “well you just got the good spot that’s why you’re catching them all” so he’d switch spots with them and start pulling huge fish out of the fishing hole they just gave up. Clayton shared his love of sports with his son Corby Klein and later his grandsons Cody, Tyler & Ross Barnes. There was nothing that Clayton enjoyed more later in life than was to head down to the ranch where his son Corby worked and spend a few days there fishing with him. Even when his health declined this was the one thing he enjoyed still. Clayton and Corby taught Cody & Tyler everything about hunting and he loved telling them all about it. In fact, if you knew Clayton there was one thing he could do is tell stories or talk your ear off. Everyone loved hearing his stories about his baseball, fishing, hunting and even his days as a Research & Development & Tooling Inspector or his Supervisor days for Mooney aircraft – whatever it was, he had a story that many had the privilege of hearing. Even his recent hospital stay he had many willing parties wrapped up in hearing all his great life stories.
Clayton was an inventor and a master jerry-rigger. He could wire-up, bungy cord, or duct tape most anything back to working order. He was always inventing ideas and thinking how something could work better up until his departure from this earth. Some of his other hobbies included Golf, watching the deer come up to their home of approximately 40 years in Kerrville Texas and he didn’t miss a day feeding “his deer” and he could tell you if one was missing or injured even when the numbers sometimes were 30-40 deer at a time. He spent hours videotaping them. Clayton constantly puttered & tinkered around with fixing things or taking them apart or making something like his own spinner baits and lead weight and more.
Clayton previously worked construction out of high school, then moved onto companies Swearingen Aircraft, Bell Helicopter & later worked in Ranching for Red Top Ranch in Camp Verde Texas where he and wife Deani and family lived for many years but he was most proud of his position at Mooney Aircraft and he made many lifelong friends there as this is where he spent the majority of his working years. He actually worked at Mooney more than once after leaving for a brief time working elsewhere he soon found his way back there. In fact, Mooney is where Clayton met his wife Deani in 1964 and asked her on a date on a dare. Clayton & Deani were married on April 29, 1964 in Kerrville Texas at the home of family. After living several places around the Kerrville area, they made their home on Palo Verde in 1978 and enjoyed their life there for many years. Clayton & Deani just moved to the Carney Oklahoma area in October 2021.
A memorial service will be held at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday October 19, 2022 in the Lehman Funeral Home chapel. There will be a memorial gathering held in Texas from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at the Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park in Fredericksburg, Texas. Arrangements are under the direction of Lehman Funeral Home of Wellston.
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