Jerry Don Clopton, 72, died April 1, 2011 after a six year battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He was born in Comanche County Okla., in 1938 to Everett and Ruth Clopton. He was a graduate of Lawton High School and Oklahoma Baptist University. He was a US Navy retiree who had served in Vietnam. After active and reserve military service, he went on to receive a Masters in Education from Drury University. He spent many years teaching school in Missouri. He is survived by his wife, Marilouise (Mel), of the home; his daughter Elizabeth Burris and her husband Tim and the grandchildren Emily and Matthew from Springfield. He is also survived by his sister, Peggy Gonzales, of Craig Colo.; and his brother, Ted Clopton and sister-in-law Donna from Lawton, Okla. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Services will be held in University Heights Baptist Church, where he was a long time member, under the care of Gorman-Sharpf Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 2 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to University Heights Baptist Church Building Fund or to Oklahoma Baptist University.