Lt. Colonel Clayton Ray Thomas

Lt. Colonel (Retired) Clayton Ray Thomas, age 74, passed away Thursday, January 4, 2024, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, after a short illness. 

He was born June 8, 1949, in Rowan County, Kentucky, to the late Rueben Thomas and Sybrina (Sparks) Thomas.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, SOC Navy SEAL Collin Trent Thomas.

Clay is survived by his former wife, Paula Jean (Trent) Thomas; one daughter, Meghan Thomas; one granddaughter, Atlee Grace Edwards, all of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and a special niece, Heather Macroglou and her children, Hutch and Collins of Durango, Colorado.

Other survivors include brothers and sisters, James C. Thomas, Clyde A. and Charlotte Thomas, Bertha Sue (Thomas) Hardin, and Bonnie (Thomas) Wood, all of Morehead, Kentucky. He was “Uncle Clay” to many nieces and nephews in the Thomas and Trent families.

Clay graduated from Rowan County High School and Morehead State University. He completed a Master’s degree from Pepperdine University in La Jolla, California.  Upon graduation from Morehead State University, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, where he spent twenty years, retiring at the rank of Lt. Colonel.  After retirement from USMC, he became the Regional Director for Experience Works in Sacramento, California. He was a member of the Morehead Masonic Lodge.

Private services will be conducted at the convenience of the family. There will be no visitation as per Clay’s request.

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