Clayton Earl Smith

A Life Well Lived

Clayton Earl Smith, 83, of Edgewood, New Mexico, passed away on Saturday, October 31, 2026, leaving behind a lifetime of accomplishments, cherished memories, and a family whose lives were shaped by his love, determination, and ingenuity.

Clayton is survived by his wife of sixty years, Margaret (Maggie) Wilkes; his son, Eric Smith, and daughter-in-law, Donna Smith; his granddaughters Amanda and Anya and their five children; Edgar and his five children; and his extended family including Kris, Jeff, Nathan, Terri, Tammi, Darvin, Glenn, Audry, Justin, Brianna, Dana, Laura, and a clutch of cousins.

Born on Thursday, August 5, 1943, in Emporia, Kansas, Clayton was the middle of three children. Growing up in a large extended family of modest means, he learned the value of hard work early, beginning his first job delivering newspapers at just twelve years old. At seventeen, he enlisted in the United States Navy.

Although Clayton and his future wife, Maggie Wilkes, attended the same high school, their paths did not truly cross until after his Navy service. They began dating in the summer of 1965 and married on Saturday, March 12, 1966, beginning a partnership that would span sixty years.

As a young husband, Clayton worked in construction before joining the Santa Fe Railroad, seeking the stability and benefits that would help him provide for his family. Their only son, Eric, arrived two years later. Clayton eventually accepted a pay cut to join the Federal Aviation Administration, believing it offered a better future. It was a decision that would lead to a long and accomplished career.

The family moved to New Mexico in 1974, where Clayton worked as an air traffic controller at the Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center. Clayton's career also took him to Washington, D.C., for two years before the family returned to New Mexico and settled in Edgewood in 1989.

Through sixty years of marriage, Clayton and Maggie built a life together that took them from Kansas to New Mexico, through a chapter in Washington, D.C., and finally to the home in Edgewood they loved so much. As Maggie reflects, theirs was not a fairy tale, but a partnership built on hard work, sacrifice, and always being there for each other when they were needed most.

At home, Clayton was the man who could fix just about anything. Whether working on a race car, tackling a project around the house, or finding a solution to a seemingly impossible problem, he believed there was always a way to make something work. His son grew up beside him, handing him tools and learning by watching. Those lessons became part of the family's legacy, passed from father to son and now to the grandchildren who carry that same curiosity and determination into their own lives.

Family was a source of tremendous pride for Clayton. He welcomed Eric's wife, Donna, and her daughters, Amanda and Heather, into the family. Eric and Donna married on Tuesday, March 12, 2002, sharing their anniversary with Clayton and Maggie, thirty-six years apart.

Clayton delighted in watching his family grow through the generations. He took great joy in watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow, pursue their dreams, and carry forward the family's traditions.

The family home in Edgewood, filled with decades of pool parties, holidays, celebrations, reunions and gatherings, became a place where generations came together and lasting memories were made.

Clayton lived a life defined by determination, resourcefulness, and the willingness to take chances for a better future. From a Kansas paperboy to a Navy sailor, an accomplished aviation professional, a dedicated drag racer, and a proud family man, he never stopped finding ways to make things work.

His greatest legacy lives in the family he loved, the lessons he passed along, and the generations who will continue to carry a little of Clayton Smith with them.

A celebration of Clayton's life is planned for Monday, December 28, 2026, in the Edgewood, New Mexico, area. Family and friends will gather to share memories, celebrate a life well lived, and honor the legacy he leaves behind. Additional details will be shared as arrangements are finalized.