Joseph Robert Clayton, 29, of Quincy, passed away Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital.
He fought a courageous battle against COVID-19, but in the end COVID-19 took him from his family.
A celebration of his life will be held in the summer. The family is being served by Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation in Union City.
Joey was born October 24, 1992 in Battle Creek, Michigan to Stanley and Tamara (Anderson) Clayton. The day he was born was the greatest day of his parents’ lives.
He grew up in Quincy and graduated in 2011 from Quincy High School, where he was a Senior Scholar. He went on to graduate from Western Michigan University in 2016, with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and Life Sciences. Joey worked at McDonald’s in Quincy during high school and more recently was employed in the meat department at Meijer in Coldwater.
A person of diverse interests, Joey played trombone in band at school and enjoyed many different kinds of music. He liked playing both online and board games with friends. He had a very close and loving relationship with his younger brother, Benjamin. Only 15 months, nine days apart, they did and shared everything together, earning the nickames “Yogi” and “Boo Boo.” Their beloved daycare provider, Paula Preston, remembered the two engaging in “brotherly tussles, brother hugs, even brotherly shenanigans.” She described Joey in his youth as quiet, thoughtful and intensely into dinosaurs, trains and his games.
He continued into adulthood being a kind-hearted and humble man of few words – a pure soul who was the best kind of person to have on your side. Joey loved his family and friends. His family was very proud of his accomplishments. He was the greatest joy of their lives.
Left to cherish Joey’s memory are his parents, Stanley Clayton of Coldwater and Tamara Clayton of Quincy; his siblings, Rachel (Brian Edwards) Clayton of St. Peters, MO, Benjamin Clayton of Quincy and Katherine “Katie” Clayton of St. Peters, MO; grandparents, John and Donna Clayton of Estero, FL and Donald Marion of Northville; uncles, Dustin Malvitz of Southgate, Thomas Anderson of Inkster and Troy Anderson and Daniel Kneeves, both of Georgia; aunts, Tracy Conley of Grand Blanc and Jennifer (Brian Melidosian) Marion of Garden City; cousins, Lauren Bellamy, John W. (Alle Luckadoo) Clayton, Cecilia Cutrera, Krista Cutrera, Jimmy Conley, Kandace Conley, Cody Malvitz, Dylan Malvitz, Jase Melidosian, Paige Conley and Peyton Conley; Godparents, Tina and Thomas Cutrera of Garden City; bonus brothers (friends) Zachary Knisely, Evan Young and Brandon Schroder; and bonus sister, Shawn Knisley.
Joey was preceded in death by grandmothers, Sandra Marion and Donna Roose; grandfather, Thomas J. Anderson, Sr.; great-grandfather, Kenneth McCauge; uncle Larry Clayton; and aunts Carolyn Clayton and Judy Clayton.
In lieu of flowers, the family is accepting donations to help with final expenses.
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