Marlene Ann Clayton

Marlene Ann Clayton (LaRue) was born on October 17, 1935. She is the daughter of Wilna (Smith) and William Ward LaRue in Kewanee, Illinois. She passed away peacefully in Geneseo, Illinois, on October 11, 2025—five days from her 90th Birthday.

She has two brothers, Gary and Bill, and a sister, Jeanine, who preceded her in death. She was married to Robert Murphy from June 1964 till 1981. She married Jon Clayton in 1986 until Jon’s death in 2019. Jon was a wonderful husband and a great stepfather to her son.  

Marlene has a son whom she shares with Robert. Matt Murphy, who lives in Las Vegas and has traveled around the world as a musician, which he continues to this day.

Marlene worked for over 30 years as an Officer at Union Federal and First Federal and retired in the early 1990s.

Marlene was friends with everyone. She worried about everyone else before she worried about herself, until her death. Never said no to anyone who needed her help. She was not only a wonderful person. She was a great mother and will be missed by everyone who knew her.

She was cremated, and per her wishes, there will be no services.

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