Clayton Dwayne Sanders was born on September 22, 1956, in Lebanon, Missouri, to Lloyd Glendale and Retha Ilene (Lemons) Sanders. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, January 21, 2024. Clayton was raised outside of Hartville on his family's dairy farm and graduated from Hartville High School in 1974. A few years after graduation, Clayton moved to Texas and worked on oil rigs with his buddies, Bruce Hogan and Gary Massey. He returned to the family farm after his father passed away in 1982. Clayton helped his mother run the farm until her passing in 2018, faithfully milking cows twice daily for several decades. He spent many additional hours on his tractor working in the hay and tending to the farm. In his spare time, Clayton enjoyed riding and working on Harley-Davidson motorcycles and restoring classic cars.
On May 9, 1986, Clayton was united in marriage to Denise Ann Hogan and to this union, Clayton's only child, Andrea Ollie Sanders, was born. Clayton fell in love with Andi the minute he laid eyes on her! Clayton and Denise remained friends even after their divorce in 2001. Clayton was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Herbert Sanders. He is survived by his daughter, Andi, and her husband, Taylor Harper of Marshfield; his granddaughter, Melody Harper of Marshfield; one brother, Tommy Sanders and his wife Helen of Hartville; one sister, Sharon Miller and her husband Buster of Ozark; one sister-in-law, Donna Sue Sanders of Nixa; several nieces and nephews; and a host of lifelong friends.
Clayton will be best remembered for his quick wit, great sense of humor, and heart of gold. He would help out any way he could and was a faithful friend to many. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Memorial services are pending.