SOUTH PARIS — Clayton Eugene Neal, 94, of Bridgton, passed away the early morning of March 8, 2024, at the Maine Veterans’ Home.

Clayton was born at home in Ripley Village, Maine, on November 5, 1929, the third son of Robert and Annie (Gallagher) Neal. In 1939, the family moved to the dairy farm on Woodcock Hill in Ripley. Clayton enjoyed a good life and learned his impeccable work ethic while working on the farm with his father, mother, brothers, and sister as well as other farms in town.

After attending Dexter High School, he entered the U.S. Army serving in Germany during the Korean War. After the war, Clayton returned to Maine to work on the farm and begin what would be a long and successful career in the shoe manufacturing industry at Dexter Shoe and then in Pittsfield where he and his first wife, Beverly (Hinton), started their family with the birth of Daniel E. in 1954 and Mark D. in 1957. In 1965, Clayton took a position at Truitt Brothers in Belfast and their third son, Matthew W. was born in 1969. Clayton divorced in 1973 and began his final stint in the shoe industry at Sebago Shoe in Bridgton and Westbrook. Clayton married Roxanne (Croteau) in Bridgton and continued to raise their family with daughter Shelley Hardin followed by the birth of James C. in 1979. Clayton retired from the shoe industry in 1996. After retirement, Clayton honed his skill at golf, and to fill his time went to work at WalMart in Windham, where a part-time job for a couple years ended up being almost 16 years. Clayton was a surgeon on the golf course, especially from 100 yards to the cup. His chipping and putting put away many an opponent, most much younger. He successfully had three holes-in-one during his golf career which only 9% of golfers in the world accomplish. He shot his age for even par 72, another feat unattainable by most golfers in their lives. Clayton enjoyed going to camp on Ripley Pond where there was always a cribbage board actively in use and he was the “King of his court.”

Clayton was predeceased by his parents, his wife Roxanne, and his brothers George Greeves and Maurice Neal; daughter- in-law Sonia Neal (Mark).

He is survived by his sister Gladys Packard (Arthur) of Cambridge. His children, Daniel (Laura) of East Haven, Conn., Mark (Anita) of Abbeville, Ala., Matthew (Gretchen) of Casco, Shelley Juneau (Jeffrey) of Bridgton and James (Kristina) of Naples; and close family friend, Leslie Morse of Belfast. His grandchildren, Rebekkah Neal (Ian), Andrew Clayton Neal, Katherine Julia Neal, Alex Neal (Kendall), Ryan Loreng, Shaun Loreng, Brooke Juneau, Luke Neal, Noah Neal, Isabella Neal, Hannah Reimers, and Lyla Reimers; great-grandchildren Drake Neal, Gavin Neal, and Addalyn Neal.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Clayton Neal’s memory to the Maine Veterans’ Home, 477 High Street, South Paris, ME 04281.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Bridgton Highland Country Club on May 18, 2024, at 12 p.m., with Military Honors to follow at 12:45 p.m.

Arrangements are under the care of Chandler Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, 8 Elm Street, Bridgton. To make an online condolence, please visit www. chandlerfunerals.com