Clayton Earl Glaze, Jr.

Clayton Earl Glaze Jr. of Nome, 96, father, grandfather, great grandfather, great-great grandfather, uncle, and friend, passed away at home Sunday, October 30, 2022, in Nome. He was born February 17, 1926, in Merryville, Louisiana to Clayton E. Glaze, Sr. and Sallie Lou Deason Glaze.

Clayton lived a very full life. He helped his father cultivate the land as sharecroppers during the Great Depression. He enlisted in the Navy as a 17-year-old and served in the South Pacific during World War II. Later he married his high school sweetheart, Robbie Yeagin and they had three daughters: Shirley, Kathy, and Kim. Clayton was the North Plant Execution Supervisor for Mobil Refinery and retired after over 33 years of dedication and hard work. He joined the Masons in 1947 and received his 75-year pin in October 2022.

Clayton and Robbie raised their family in Beaumont, Texas and eventually decided to move to Nome, Texas to be closer to their grandchildren. He was very active in his faith serving as a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Nome for many years where he made many close friends. For 23 years he volunteered at Vacation Bible School and served as a chaplain for Henderson Middle School in China, Texas for several years.

Clayton spent much of his life outdoors. He was a wonderful gardener and always had a garden in his backyard (and sometimes 3 or 4), happily sharing the bounty of his harvest with family and friends. He loved hunting and fishing and continued to be active in these activities well into his 90s. He enjoyed telling jokes and making others laugh. He loved to sit on his front porch and drink his coffee every day. Cornbread, cowboy stew, and Blue Bell homemade vanilla ice cream were staples in his diet.

He kept a tub of toys for the great grandkids and great-great grandkids to play with whenever they visited him. Many of these toys were ones his grandchildren played with at his home when they were young. Some of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren remember him hiding money for them under his Mobil Oil hard hat lamp. He also made sure to keep cookies and peppermints on hand to give to the great grandkids.

Clayton was very active and very independent. He lived on his own and took care of himself until just a few weeks before his passing.

He is survived by his daughters,  Kathy Wagley and husband, Carlin, of Nome, Texas; Kim Perry of Duncan, South Carolina; son-in-law, Paul Wheelington of Beaumont; grandchildren, Amy Lignell (Scott); Alisa Vasquez; Aaron Wagley (Jodi); Rachael Naegle (Jordan); Spencer Wagley (Cristine); Steven Wagley (Michelle); Laurie Montes (Aaron); great-grandchildren, Natalie (Ian); Lily; Joshua; Flynn; Tye; Kenadie; Cora; Copper; Fern; Wren; Autumn; Rose; Elliot; Penelope; Windsor; Fletcher; Akira; Vash; Ashitaka; Asuna; Landon; Olivia; Luke; and Caden; and great-great grandchildren, Jacen and Ember.

Clayton is preceded in death by his parents, Clayton E. Glaze Sr. and Sallie Lou Deason; wife, Robbie Lee Yeagin Glaze; daughter, Shirley Faye Wheelington; sisters, Dorothy Marie Moses, Faye LaRue Snyder, and Shirley Mae Morris; grandson, Michael Wagley; and son-in-law, Thomas Perry.

A gathering of Mr. Glaze’s family and friends will be from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., Thursday, November 3, 2022, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His graveside service will follow at 2:30 p.m., at Village Mills Cemetery, Village Mills.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that those who wish to honor the memory of Clayton E. Glaze may do so by making a memorial contribution to the Lamar University Foundation for the Shirley F. Wheelington Scholarship Fund in Education, P.O. Box 11500, Beaumont, Texas 77710 or  Donate Here.