Frankie Porter Clayton

Frankie Porter Clayton, 79, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Tuesday, May 09, 2023 at Ascension St. Vincent (St. Mary’s) Hospital, in Evansville. 

Frankie was born to the late Frances Mae Clayton Curry and Lonnie Clayton on May 05, 1944, in Providence, Kentucky,

Frankie graduated from Providence High School in May 1964, with a small class of 54 members. He started working at a very young age at Ashley’s Grocery Store on Barbour Street. He was a waiter at Bright Spot Cafe in Providence, and also worked at Big Daddy’s IGA for 17+ years. He was a coal miner, working for Island Creek Coal Company, and Peabody Coal. He retired February 23, 2003 after 30+ years.  He was a member of the United Mine Workers for 49+ years, and was the Financial Secretary of Local 2305, Ohio #11, at Uniontown. 

Frankie was a member of the US Army Reserves.  He was a Kentucky Colonel, an Admiral of the great fleet of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and was named a Duke of Hazard, Kentucky by Mayor Happy Mobelini. 

Frankie was an avid outdoorsmen. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and boating. He enjoyed fishing in Canada with lifelong friends, but he most enjoyed duck hunting with his son Jason in Louisiana, Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, or wherever the ducks were flying. He loved boating on the Tradewater River and at Kentucky Lake. Frankies vacations always revolved around the best places to eat. If you mentioned a place to eat, Frankie had probably already been there. He was a social person, never meeting a stranger, and made such an impact on so many lives. He will forever be missed.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Ruth Ann McCormick Clayton of Providence,  brothers Jackie (Lois) Clayton of Madisonville, Rickie Curry of Evansville, and Terry Hardin of Evansville, nephews Mark (Angie) Clayton of Elberfeld, Kevin (Holly) Clayton of Madisonville, John Curry of Evansville, aunt Emma Lou Hooker Watson (Dr. William Watson) of De Soto, MO, Dewayne Mark Dutton of Clay, Brian Dutton of Clay, and Tommy (Dana) Hall of Newburgh, Sister in laws Edith Dutton of Clay, and Judith Hall of Clay, and brother in law Aubrey McCormick of Clay, as well as many great nieces and nephews. 

He was proceeded in death by his mother, Frances Mae Clayton Curry, father Lonnie Clayton, and son Jason Clayton. 

Visitation will be Thursday, May 11, 2023, 9:00am-7:00pm at Vanover Funeral Home in Clay. Pastor Ralph Alexander will be officiating the service at 7:00pm. 

Graveside memorial services will be conducted on June 3, 2023 at Lakeview Cemetery in Providence at 11:00 AM with Bro. Ralph Alexander officiating.

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