Clayton Wright Cooch 1925 - 2010

COOCH GREFE MURRELL

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 10/25/2010 at 19:12:04

Sioux City Journal
24 April 2010

ANTHON, Iowa -- Clayton W. Cooch 84, of Anthon died Wednesday, April 21, 2010, at his residence following a brief illness.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Climbing Hill, Iowa, with the Rev. Klaus Raab joined by Rev. Craig Wulf of Spokane, Wash. officiating. Burial will be in Westfork Township Cemetery at Climbing Hill, with military rites to be provided by the American Legion Hindman-Steele Post 492 of Hornick, Iowa. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. Sunday, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. followed by an evening service by the American Legion, at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Anthon, Iowa.

Clayton Wright Cooch was born July 13, 1925, in Cushing, Iowa, to Clarence and Freda (Grefe) Cooch. In 1932, at the age of seven, he and his family moved to a farm north of Climbing Hill, Iowa. Clayton graduated from Climbing Hill High School in 1943.

In November 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served aboard the USS Monterey in the South Pacific with the former president, Gerald Ford. He was proud of his service and duty to his country. He had three special U.S. Marine Corps friends. They were closer than brothers and remained so until each of their deaths. Clayton was a 60-plus-year member of the American Legion Hindman-Steele Post 492 of Hornick, Iowa. He proudly read and honored the names of our veterans every Memorial Day for many many years. One of the highlights of his life was the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. to see the World War II Memorial.

On Sept. 16, 1951, he was united in marriage to Donna Jean Murrell at St. John's Lutheran Church in Climbing Hill, where Clayton was a dedicated and faithful member. He farmed and sold Murphy's Feed before becoming a government meat inspector. After retiring from meat inspection he continued to farm.

On Feb. 28, 1998, he married Anita at the Methodist Church in Anthon.

Survivors include his wife, Anita of Anthon; his son, Dr. Clayton Gregory (Ellen) Cooch of Spearfish, S.D.; a daughter, Jodie (Mike) Hannah of Moville, Iowa; grandchildren, Dustin (Jessica) Hannah and their children, his great granddaughters, Skylar and Cadence Hannah of Moville; grandsons, Braden Hannah of Moville and Joseph Edward Cooch of Vermillion, S.D.; and granddaughter, Catherine Allen M.D. (Justin) of Bloomington, Del.; his brother-in-law, Gayle Murrell of Sloan, Iowa; as well as several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his stepson, Alan (Carol) Pierce of Spencer, Iowa; stepdaughters, Jo Ellen (Bill) Roush of Louisburg, Kan., Becky (Steve) Eitzen of San Diego, Calif.; stepgrandchildren, Clinton Pierce of Spencer, Iowa, Cody Pierce of Waverly, Iowa, Bradley Roush of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and Melissa Roush of Pittsburg, Kan.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Betty Dreus and her husband, Kenneth; his grandson, Brandon Michael Hannah on Feb. 22, 1976; and his first wife, Donna Jean on Nov. 28, 1993.

Clayton was truly blessed with a multitude of friends and we as his family were honored and privileged to have shared his life.