Earl Clayton Snyder, Jr., 87, Hamilton, Missouri, passed away on January 31, 2014, at St. Luke's Hospital on the Plaza, Kansas City, Mo. He had been a lifelong resident of Caldwell County and the Kendall Chapel Community.

Clayton was born on October 15, 1926, southwest of Hamilton at the family home, to Earl Clayton and Lois Olivene Eckelberry Snyder. He was a 1944 graduate of the Hamilton High School where he excelled at football and was the senior class president. Clayton played on the 1943 undefeated Hamilton Hornets football team.

Clayton served our country in the US Army during the Korean War as a Master Sergeant. He returned to the farm and married Ellyn Ann Hall on June 14, 1953, at the Otwell Christian Church, Otwell, Arkansas. Clayton was a lifelong farmer and had been a rural letter carrier for the Hamilton Post Office.

Clayton was an active member of the Hamilton American Legion Post #285 and the Legion Honor Guard in which he served at 250 funerals, the Masonic Lodge, the Kingston Township Board, the Hamilton Lion's Club, Gideon's International, the Rural Fire Board, the Hamilton Housing Authority Board, the Rural Letter Carrier's Association, and was a member of the Kendall Chapel Church where he served as Sunday superintendent for over 30 years.

Clayton was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, James D. Snyder.

Survivors: Wife, Ellyn, of the home; Daughter, Sherris Hane, and husband, Daryl, Cameron, Mo., and their children: Betsey Seymour, husband, Preston, Rifle, Co; Seth Hane, and wife, Amy, Bentonville, AR; and Joel Hane, Columbia, Mo; Son, Dean Snyder, and wife, Nancy, Hamilton, and their children: Kari Snyder, Chillicothe, Mo.; Emily Snyder, Easton, Mo; and Creston Snyder, Hamilton; Brother, Bill (Leota) Snyder, Jameson, Mo.; Sister, Virginia (Bob) Baker, Hamilton; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m., Monday, Feb. 3, at the Hamilton Federated Church, Hamilton.

Visitation: 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, February 2, at the Hamilton Federated Church.

Interment: Highland Cemetery, Hamilton.

Memorials: The Kendall Chapel Church, The Hamilton American Legion Post #285 Honor Guard, or the St. Luke's Mid-America Heart Institute.

Arrangements: Bram Funeral Home, Hamilton.