Krista Kathleen Clayton

Krista Clayton passed away on Christmas Eve in a tragic accident when a plane carrying herself and four friends crashed in Bartow, Florida. She was 32 years old.

Krista was born in Westerly, Rhode Island and raised in nearby Charlestown. She attended the University of Rhode Island where she double-majored in secondary education and communications, and from which she graduated with honors. During and after high school she made friends in her many extracurricular activities, which included mentoring, tutoring, coaching, with participation in track and field, soccer, and basketball. She worked as an elementary and secondary school teacher in both Rhode Island and Florida, most recently at Jewett School of the Arts, where she demonstrated by untiring example her commitment to her students' education and to improving their lives overall. 

She loved to travel and relished every opportunity to do so; this love guided her across the globe. She studied abroad in Oxford, England, toured Europe, and in addition to visiting nearly every country in Southeast Asia she taught English in South Korea. In all of these places, and wherever she went, she had a knack for quickly acquiring lifelong friends. The lessons she learned from her travels were in turn imparted to her students. 

From the moment they were born, Krista's two daughters, Lila, aged 3 years, and Lucy, 18 months, were the twin stars of her life. Every second was dedicated to them, and she found endless joy in teaching them, reading to them, taking them to the park, and encouraging their creativity in arts and crafts.

Hers was an undiminished optimism, a giving nature, and an incandescent spirit with enthusiasm for life in its every variety. Krista touched the hearts of all who met her. She will be sorely missed.

Krista is survived by Lucy and Lila Rachlin; her parents, Susan and Phillip Clayton; her five siblings, Phillip, Matthew, Bonnie, Mary Grace and Michael; and her fiancé, Marc.

There will be two services held for Krista, one in Florida and one in Rhode Island.
The first will be a church service held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lakeland, Florida on January 6th at 4:00 p.m. The church service will be followed by a celebration of life at the Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland at 5:30 p.m.

Krista's Rhode Island service will take place on January 13th and begin with a memorial mass at St.Vincent De Paul Church in Westerly, Rhode Island at 10:00 a.m. The mass will be followed by a celebration of Krista's life at The Towers in Narragansett, Rhode Island from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Both events are open to the public. 

Words of comfort may be expressed by clicking “Guest Book / Condolences” link.

 Service Information