Obituaries
Decorated Police Officer Howard J. Clayton Dies at 74
Clayton was a retired detective and Army veteran.
The following information was provided by Dooley Funeral Home.
Howard J. Clayton, 74, passed away Sunday, November 10, 2013 at home. Born and raised in Jersey City, he moved to Cranford in 1977.
Friends are invited to visit 4-8 PM Friday at the Dooley Funeral Home, 218 North Ave. West in Cranford. Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael’s Church, Cranford.
A police officer, he retired in 1991 as a detective after 27 ½ years on the Jersey City Police Department. In 1968 he had been one of the Parade Magazine top 10 lawmen in the country and a Detectives Crime Clinic of NJ, NY, and Ct. Cop of the Month after foiling a Greenville bank robbery while off duty with his young daughter, Debbie.
Mr. Clayton was an Army veteran and a member of the Retired FOP.
Surviving are his loving wife of 54 years, Marie (Harold) Clayton; 3 devoted children, Cheryl Folger (Thomas), Debbie Fleming (Scott), and Michael (Kristina); 7 beloved grandchildren, Allison, Scott, Thomas, Michael, Matt, Emily, and Katie; his devoted foster-son, John Carucci; a sister, Lorraine; and his beloved nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Autism Foundation of New Jersey, www.autismfoundationNJ.org.
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