Robert Clifton

Robert "Red" Layton Clifton, 90, of Jackson, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, at Chateau Girardeau.

He was born Jan. 18, 1930, in Jackson.

On Nov. 4, 1950, he was united in marriage to Joyce Ann Lindsay in Cape Girardeau.

He spent most of his adult life in public service. In 1957, Red joined the Jackson Police Department as a patrolman and in 1974, he became chief of police. He served as chief until his retirement in 1990, with 33 years of service to the City of Jackson. In 1948, he joined the Naval Reserve, and in 1949, enlisted in the Missouri National Guard, where he retired in 1980, at the rank of sergeant first class with more than 30 years of military service.

Red and Joyce were members of New McKendree Methodist Church of Jackson. Red was a member of Jackson Optimist Club, where he served as president in the mid-1980s, he was a member of the Jackson Lions Club, Elks Lodge and SEMO Military Jeep Club. Red enjoyed fishing, collecting antiques and military items. His greatest joy was spending time with his family. Red recently donated his military collection to Missouri's National Veterans Memorial in Perryville, Missouri.

Loving survivors include his four children, Penny (Bernard) Meyer of Perryville, Joana (Rick) Hoffman of San Antonio, Florida, Julie (Mike) Smith of Russellville, Missouri, and Joe (Lisa) Clifton of King, North Carolina. He was blessed with 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his spouse, Joyce; a grandson; and one great-granddaughter.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Ford and Sons Jackson Funeral Home.

Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jimmie Corbin officiating. Burial will follow, with full military honors, at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Missouri's National Veterans Memorial, 1172 Veterans Memorial Parkway, Perryville, MO 63775, or The National Parkinson Foundation, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741.

Online condolences may be shared at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.