Born August 26, 1957 in Texas City, Texas, Clayton had been a lifelong resident of Santa Fe before recently moving to Shreveport.  He had attended the School for the Deaf in Austin, worked in apartment maintenance and was a proud member of the Santa Fe Fire and Rescue. 

He was preceded in death by his grandparents that raised him, Daniel and Helen Howard; brother, Daniel Wayne Howard; grandmother, Lois Ditchman and great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Dodd; stepfather, Sam Byrd.

He is survived by his father and step-mother, Les and Jo Ann Howard of Santa Fe; mother, Betty Louise Byrd of Shreveport; brothers, Carl Wayne Howard, Friendswood, Robert Ellis Byrd, Shreveport; sisters, Vickie Stuckey, Shreveport, Melissa Nicole Brumlow, Washington and Amanda Marie Gardine of Texas City and his former step mother, Alice Lawana Howard of Santa Fe.

Funeral services will be conducted 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 18, 2010, in the chapel of Hayes Funeral Home, Reverend C. Wayne Clement officiating.  Interment will follow at Hayes Grace Memorial Park with the Santa Fe Fire and Rescue providing final tribute services and serving as pallbearers.

Visitation will be from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, 10412 Highway 6, (409) 925-3501.  www.hayesfuneralhome.com