Clayton N. Smith, age 81, passed away December 11, 2009, after a short illness and a long, happy life. He was born in Warren, Arkansas, February 15, 1928. He served in the United States Coast Guard. Clayton loved helping others, including family, neighbors and animal friends. One message he always lived by, and the only thing he ever wanted in return from others, was for everyone to "pay it forward." He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret; his parents; and two sisters. On June 2, 1979, he married Shirley DuBois Lindeman. Clayton retired to Springfield after 41 years with Dun & Bradstreet. Survivors include his wife, Shirley; daughters, Denise Field, husband Mike, Hutchinson, Kan., Melea Basom, husband Keith, Stow, Ohio, Deanne Lindeman Wilson, husband Victor, Springfield, Mo.; sons, David Lindeman, wife Kathy, Canyon Lake, Calif., and Derek Lindeman, Tulsa, Okla.; seven grandsons, Chris Field, wife Emily, Huntersville, N.C., Keith Basom, Jr., Raleigh, N.C.; Dawson and Devlin Lindeman, Canyon Lake, Calif., Drew and Ross Lindeman, Nixa, Mo., and Brody Wilson, Springfield, Mo.; one granddaughter, Campbell Wilson, Springfield, Mo.; and one niece, Penny Vaught, husband Hal, Hernando, Miss. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, December 14, 2009 in Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, December 13, 2009, in the Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 9415 E. Harry, Suite 706, Wichita, KS 67207 or St. Jude's Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929. We'll have a blue Christmas without you, Dad.