Rodney was born January 27, 1955, at Providence, KY, to the late Raymond Miller Clayton and Kathryn Pearl "Kitty" Teague Clayton. He was a graduate of Webster County High School in Dixon, KY, and furthered his education at Murray State University in Murray, KY.  Under the advisement of Mississippi County Sheriff, the late Larry Turley, he studied and graduated from the SEMO Law Enforcement Academy at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO, and then went on to serve as a reserve deputy sheriff in Mississippi County a number of years.  Rodney was employed by the State of Missouri for many years in the parole and probation division until his retirement.     He was a past member of the Charleston Jaycees and the Mississippi County Farm Bureau board.

Rodney loved sports and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals Fan and a fierce supporter of the Kentucky Wildcats Basketball.  He loved hunting and fishing and growing and nurturing hybrid flowers and plants.   Of the Baptist belief, Rodney loved his lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

On March 17, 1979, he married Mary Anne Newlon, who survives of the home.

Also surviving is his brother, Mike (Karen) Clayton of Princeton, KY; his sister, Judy (Darrell) Cole of Indianapolis, IN; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Raymond Clayton; his sister, Nancy Clayton; his father in law and mother in law, Maurice and Florence Ree Goodin Newlon; and his brother in law, Charles Camden "Cam" Newlon.

The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. until the funeral hour at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, October 20, 2022, at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.  Dr. Richard Logan, longtime personal friend, will officiate.

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