Obituary published on Legacy.com by Roberson Funeral Home - Stanberry on Jul. 30, 2025.
Monica Elizabeth Woods Clayton, 97, of Maryville, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at Countryside Village in King City, Missouri.
Monica was born on October 15, 1927 in Conception Junction, Missouri to John and Matilda (Ginther) Runde. She grew up and attended school there where she would walk two miles to a one room schoolhouse. On April 21, 1947, she was united in marriage to Merrill Vincent Woods. Together they had 10 children on their farm north of
Stanberry, Missouri. She also helped raise her own brothers and sisters. Merrill passed away in 1981, and then on February 28, 1987, Monica was united in marriage to Kenneth Dale Clayton. Monica was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church in
Stanberry, Missouri for many years until she moved to Maryville, Missouri where she has been a member of St. Gregory's Catholic Church for the last 20+ years.
Monica worked hard raising and taking care of her family. She raised chickens to sell and always had a garden to feed her family. She always enjoyed growing flowers, especially patience and peonies. She also enjoyed sewing quilts, reading books, and baking her famous sugar cookies for all of her grandchildren. And in her last few years, she really enjoyed watching and feeding the squirrels.
Monica was preceded in death by her parents, John and Matilda Runde; husbands, Merrill Woods and Kenneth Clayton; sons, James Vincent Woods and Donald Wayne Woods; daughter, Judith Ann Woods; brothers, Leo Runde, Richard Runde, Walter Runde, Jack Runde, Bernard Runde, and Eugene Runde; and sisters, Sally Davison, Teresa Kemper Price, and Rita Andriano. She is survived by her children, Constance Sue "Connie" Constant and husband Allen, Daryl Kenneth Woods and wife Penny, Diane Elizabeth Porter and husband Mark, Janet Kaye Gard and husband Jim, Barbara Lynn Woods, Debra Darlene Barnhart and husband Dale, and Gerald Francis "Gerry" Woods; 24 grandchildren; 39 great grandchildren; and sisters, Rosalie Starke and husband Dennis, and Mary Crocker and husband Jim.
She will be deeply loved and missed by everyone who knew her over the last 97 years.
A Rosary will be held at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at St. Peter's Catholic Church, 614 N. Alanthus Ave.
Stanberry, MO 64489. A visitation will follow until 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 AM on Thursday, July 17, 2025 at the church. Burial will follow in the Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery in
Stanberry, MO. Memorials and Contributions are suggested to the Nodaway County Senior Center Meals on Wheels. Online condolences can be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.
To send a flower arrangement in memory of Monica Elizabeth Woods Clayton, please click here to visit our sympathy store.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Monica Elizabeth Woods Clayton, please click here to visit our sympathy store.