Clayton Jacob Carroll

Clayton Jacob Carroll, 83, of the Hollybrook Community, Bland, Va., and formerly of Narrows, Va., went to be with his Lord and Savior and his Iris on Friday, November 13, 2009. Clayton was born in Draper, Va. on June 26, 1926 the oldest of six children, the son of Fred and Willie Carroll. Clayton had to work very hard as a youngster and joined the United States Navy at age 17 to defend his country during World War II on the U.S.S. Taussig, a destroyer in the South Pacific. Clayton met Iris Ramsey, the love of his life, on a curve in Hollybrook, Va. When Iris first saw Clayton in his sailor uniform she said, "Woo Woo! A Sailor! Woo!" They married after 3 months of courtship and were together nearly 60 years. Clayton and Iris raised their three children in Narrows. He was a member of the Narrows Volunteer Fire Department from 1958 to 1986 and a member of the Narrows First United Methodist Church until he and Iris moved back to Hollybrook, Va. where they first met. He was also a lifetime member of the Narrows and Hollybrook/Mechanicsburg Fire Departments and of the Narrows V.F.W. Post 6000 as well as a member of the Shiloh United Methodist Church. He leaves behind his three children, Terry Kay Blankenship and husband Danny, Beverly Simpkins and husband Lee, and Michael Carroll. Also a special son-in-law and friend, Ray Hodge. Clayton also leaves to cherish his memory two surviving sisters, Ellen Gregory and Beulah Covey. He will be missed greatly by his grandchildren, Jodi, Ramie, Ryan, Sarah, Shilah, Nikki, Casey and Shawn. Also special caregiver, Jane Davis. Funeral services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home, White Gate with Pastor Jim Conley officiating. Military grave side rites by Narrows V.F.W. Post 6000, Narrows American Legion Post 68 and Pembroke American Legion Post 311 at Shiloh Cemetery, Hollybrook. The visitation will be Sunday at the funeral home after 2 p.m. and the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Hollybrook Mechanicsburg Fire Department, 639 Flat Top Road, Bland, Va., 24315.