Clayton Earl Gill of Ozark, Alabama

Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home

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Posted by: Fuqua-Bankston
[email protected]
334-774-4551
Date: Feb 29 2016 3:13 PM

Clayton Earl Gill, 86, of Ozark, Alabama passed away on Saturday, February 27, 2016 after a brief illness. 

Visitation will take place on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home in Ozark from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.  Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, March 3, 2016 at 2:00 pm with Rev. AL Sonanstine officiating and Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home directing. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memory Gardens in Ozark. Flowers are being accepted or memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

Earl is survived by his wife of 62 years, Betty Joyce Gill of Ozark.  He is also survived by his three children & daughter in-law, Brenda Briseno of Stillwater, OK, Keith & Marianne Gill of Grapevine, TX, and Lynn Gill of Panama City Beach, FL as well as his sister June Johnson of Franklin, TN and brother Mike Gill of Ozark.  He is also survived by 5 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.  Earl was preceded in death by his parents Henry Clayton & Edmonia Gill, sister, Margaret Outlaw and brothers, Jimmy & Randall Gill. 

Earl was born in January 1930 in Ozark and was the oldest of six children.  At the age of 19, Earl joined the United States Navy as a Machinist’s Mate.  He served mainly in the Pacific theater prior to and during the Korean War conducting repair work for naval vessels supporting United Nations operations against North Korea before leaving the Navy in May of 1952.  Earl married the love of his life, Betty Joyce Boland in December 1953.  Earl & Betty moved to Michigan where Earl worked for Ford Motor Company and where all three of his children were born.  Earl and Betty moved back to Ozark, Alabama in 1968.  For several years, Earl managed a Service Station business with his Dad in Ozark.   It was in this business where Earl gained many good friends within the community – friendships he cherished his entire life.   

Earl was a devoted husband and loving father.  He demonstrated to his family how to love one another and also how to be accountable in life.   Earl was a lifetime Alabama Crimson Tide fan who excitedly cheered for them through their most recent championship.   He will be missed by all that knew him.

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