Lindsay Lu Netahla Clayton

Lindsay Lu Netahla Clayton was born June 14,1984 at Wellington Kansas to proud parents, Mike and Lu Ann Volavka Netahla and big brother, Nathan. Nathan adored his new baby sister. She was named the “Bionic Baby” after rolling over when she was only one hour old. It was later determined she was having trouble breathing while lying on her stomach.

When she was 2 years, she followed in her big brother, Christopher’s, footsteps. She developed the same liver problem that her brother had died from in 1981. When she was 2 years and 3 months old, she was given a second chance at life. On September 20, 1986, she had her life saving liver transplant at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. She was the 50th patient and 52nd transplant. She had her share of ups and downs in the beginning. She recently celebrated her 25th Liver Anniversary on Sept. 20, 2011. Lindsay had a love for animals like no other. She had her grandpa Jerry wrapped around his little finger. She would call him from the Sumner County Fair to come pick her up. She would always have a free cat and dog. After grandpa Jerry was gone, Nathan, took over. She even surprised him by adopting three cats instead of one. He was very surprised when she pulled cats after cat out of the pet porter. Even though grandma Shirley was in the nursing home, she even helped her. She found her beloved little Chihuahua, Sophie. Partly because of her love of animals, Lindsay became a member of the Skylark 4-H Club in the second grade. She remained a faithful member of Skylark and Trailblazers 4-H until she graduated from high school. Those treasured were times in Lindsay’s life.

Lindsay attended Caldwell Schools. She was a member of the twelve year class of 2003. She would claim that it should be 16 year class, but she would be the only one in it. Back then no one attended 3 years of preschool and kindergarten. It was mandatory from UNMC that they attend as soon as allowed, so the parents would not shelter them. Lindsay was proud of the fact that she was named “Who’s Who” for three consecutive years. She also wrote a poem about Mike’s English Pointer, Champ. The poem made it to the semi-finalist. It was published in a poetry book. She felt very honored to receive the scholarship from the United Methodist Church.

Lindsay worked at Dillions and attended Cowley County Community College majoring in Criminal Justice. She chose the Wellington Police to do her ride along for class. She often joked that Nathan and she were so bad that they had to check into the police department when they went to Wellington. They both adored & respected the law enforcement. She was proud of being the first class to have the D.A.R.E. program at Caldwell Elementary. Her teacher was Gerald Gilky, a friend for life.

Lindsay was a worker. She never complained when it was time to do chores. She loved animals so much. She worked at Wal-Mart in Wellington until she wanted something exciting and was tired of handling money. She went to work for Southwind Casino. So she wouldn’t be around the smoke, they put her in the reconciliation department. She said ‘WOW, I’m going to work in recon!!” Recon was in a secluded area. First day she came home and declared “Instead of thousands of dollars at Wal-Mart, I now count out hundreds
of thousand of dollars!” She loved it, but not the long drive. After that she worked at Dillon’s, Karl’s Apple Market, Sykes Call Center in Ponca City, then back to her beloved Wal-Mart in Wellington. She was planning to take classes in real estate. She would have been good. She could buy, sell or trade anything. One night while her mom was in the kitchen Lindsay said to her “Mom! There’s a guy on Facebook that said, “You don’t’ know me, but I know who you are!” Her mom said “Be careful Lindsay. You don’t know who he is.” She said, “His name is Gerald Clayton. He works for Shoffners.” He had seen her in Wal- Mart. They corresponded on the computer for over a year before they met each other at the Kansas State Fair. From that day on they were inseparable. He proposed to her on Christmas morning, 2009. They were married November 13, 2010. Her mom asked her, “You don’t want to get married on the 13th, do you?” She replied, “That’s my lucky number.” The last four digits of her Social Security Number are 1313. Mike and Lu Ann could not believe they would issue a little girl 1313. Gerald and Lindsay took a 7 day cruise for their honeymoon in March. They went to Cozumel, Grand Cayman Islands and Jamaica. Lindsay loved to travel but she was always anxious to come home. She’d say, “There’s no place like home.” She earned the nick name “Dorothy.”

Lindsay and Gerald celebrated their first wedding anniversary on November 13, 2011. On that day, Lindsay was baptized and joined the United Methodist Church. Gerald, her mom, Lu Ann, and a friend, Nancy Browning, were also confirmed and joined the church that day. She was very proud. She had recently written some items for the church newsletter. She was looking forward to doing more of this.

Gerald’s mom, Jody, introduced Lindsay to the world of model horse showing and she excelled - first meeting and attending local horse shows and winning numerous awards. She attended the North American Model National Show in June 2011 where her models won Top Ten and her draft Big and Rich took Reserve National Champion. There will be a “Lindsay Netahla Clayton Memorial Award” that will be presented annually to the exhibitor who best displays the traits that made Lindsay special and so near and dear to our hearts. The award will be presented at Tornado Alley at The OkieMo Congress Show for the first time April 28, 2012. She was to help Valerie Brunhoeber at EquiFest. Valerie is dedicating her performance in Lindsay’s memory.

Lindsay went home to be with the Lord on Monday, January 2, 2011. She passed away at her home in rural Bluff City. She was met with open arms by her brother, Christopher Michael Netahla, Grandpa Jerry Volavka, Grandpa Frank Netahla, Uncle Rick Volavka and a host of friends and relatives. She will be greatly missed by her loving husband, Gerald, of the home; parents Mike and Lu Ann Netahla; brother Nathan Netahla and wife Jennifer; Grandma Shirley Volavka all of Caldwell; grandma Virginia Bradley of Anthony; uncle Terry Volavka of Wichita; aunt Brenda Volavka of Caldwell; aunt Debbie Francis and husband Allan of Anthony; uncle Gary Lantz and wife Geri; uncle Dennis Lantz and wife Freda; aunt Karen Nelson and husband Rich all of Lucas, Kansas; uncle Jerry Lantz and wife Annette of Salina; uncle Larry Lantz of Atchison , Kansas; uncle Ray Lantz of Florida; aunt Judy of Georgia; Gerald’s parents Mike and Jody Kimbrell of Hanna City, Illinois; grandma Anna Issacs of Glasford, Illinois; uncle Tim Blair of Glasford, Illinois; Jason Clayton and wife Melissa of Peoria, Illinois; sister Candice Bastain of Hanna City, Illinois; and nieces and nephews Kayla, Kiana, Jamal and Anthony and a host of great aunts and uncles, cousins and friends. She will be missed by her special friends with fur, her dogs, Sophie, Sam, Shazy, Mazy and Gracie; her cat Teddy; her miniatures horses Joey and her colt, Jet, and her big horse, Diamond, and her rabbits. She was a true animal lover.

Lindsay always wanted a Christmas wedding, now she would be very proud to have a Christmas funeral service. She was so happy to have helped decorate this beautiful church. Gerald wanted Lindsay in her favorite Eeyore hooded sweatshirt, comfy plaid pajama pants and her old cowboy boots. Her dad commented “Now she’s ready to do her chores.” Funeral services were held 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 6, 2012 at the United Methodist Church in Caldwell. Pastor Donna Wise officiated. Pat Weber served as organist.
Casket bearers were Danny Shoffner, Larry Netahla, Bryce Summerhoff, Galen Lowe, Gerald Gilkey and Mike Brunhoeber. Interment was in the Czechoslovakian Cemetery, Caldwell, Kansas. Memorials may be given in Lindsay’s name to the Kansas Humane Society or to the S.H.A.R.E. Foundation for a memorial bench on main street.

To share a memory or leve a condolence please visit www.schaeffermortuary.info Arrangements by Schaeffer Mortuary, 6 N. Main, Caldwell, Kansas.