Clayton Gerboth

Clayton Neale Gerboth, 72, of Springfield, died Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2006, in a Springfield hospital after a long battle with cancer.

Mr. Gerboth was born April 15, 1933, in Winfield, Kan., and attended Washburn University and the University of Kansas, graduating in 1961 from Wichita (Kan.) State University. He married Patricia Jone Barnett Feb. 18, 1958, in Wichita.

He worked as a geologist for Kerr McGee Corp. in Grants, N.M., as manager of the Schwarzwalder Mine in Golden, Colo., and as chief geologist for North American Coal Corp. in Bismarck, N.D. He most recently owned and operated Casey's Food 'n' Spirits in Springfield, where he had lived since November 1982.

He was an avid jogger, bicyclist and tennis player and held a black belt in karate.

Mr. Gerboth is survived by his wife, Patricia Jone, of Springfield; three daughters, Bonnie (Betsy) Sundquist and her husband, Kip, of Eagan, Minn., Megan Affa and her husband, Dean, of Littleton, Colo., and Jennifer Gerboth of Eagan; three grandchildren, Andrew, Madison and Abigail; two stepgrandsons, Tim and Eric; his mother, Emma Gerboth of Abilene; and two brothers, Terry of Tonto Basin, Ariz., and Danny of Springfield.

He was preceded in death by his father, Juel.

Visitation will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday in Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home, 500 E. Walnut, Springfield. Services will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, with Fr. Denis Dougherty, O.S.B. officiating in the funeral home, with cremation to follow.

Memorials are preferred to the Southwest Missouri Humane Society, 3161 W. Norton Road, Springfield, Mo., 65802. Online condolences can be made at www.hhlohmeyer.com.