Jerrit L. Clayton

funeral director, Wilson-St. Pierre Funeral ­Service & Crematory, Greenwood, Indiana, and father of Andy Clayton, Indiana Funeral Directors Association executive director, died March 24, 2021, at age 74.

A graduate of Indiana College of Mortuary Science, Clayton first worked for Usher Funeral Home in Indianapolis and later for Bedino Funeral Home, Patrick J. Ryan Funeral Home, and as senior vice president of Flanner and Buchanan Mortuaries. After officially retiring, he came to serve in a part-time capacity at Wilson-St Pierre.

Clayton’s reputation and influence as a funeral service leader would grow to be known nationally, as he mentored and served with countless funeral directors and funeral service leaders. He was a lifetime Certified Funeral Service Practitioner through the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.

Clayton served 20 years as a Zionsville volunteer fireman and as president of the Zionsville Cemetery Association and Zionsville Little League, where he was awarded the prestigious McKamey Award for distinguished service. Clayton served on Zionsville’s Sullivan Munce Museum Board; Zionsville Rotary, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow; and Zionsville Jaycees, Lions Club and American Legion. He served six years in the Army Reserves.

Clayton was appointed by Gov. Evan Bayh to serve on the State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service, a professional administrative board that ensures that laws protecting Hoosiers are adhered to and oversees funeral service compliance to those laws; he was chairman for two years of his overall eight years of service.

He created the Isaac Ball Fellowship through the Indiana Funeral Education Foundation. What started as one man, $1,000 and a simple dream has flourished into 160-plus Isaac Ball Fellows, nearly a quarter-million dollars in scholarship money and a legacy that will continue to forward learning opportunities. Clayton also served for many years on the board of the Funeral Service Foundation, and as chairman in 2003.

Clayton began volunteering his time and expertise to the Indiana Funeral Directors Association in 1988; he was its 115th president (1995-96) and represented Indiana funeral service as an NFDA Policy Board member for eight years.

Clayton is survived by wife Melinda, son David Andrew “Andy,” and one granddaughter and grandson.