Obituaries

James “Jim” Clayton, 79, a proud lifelong resident of Red Bank, passed away peacefully on September 12, 2026 surrounded by his loving family.

Jim shared 53 years of marriage with his wife, Ellen. They built a life together with their daughters, Jennifer Belcuore and Kristine Clayton-Kuhlthau, and their husbands, Chris Belcuore and Warren Kuhlthau. Jim is also survived by his three brothers, George, Billy, and Robert.  He treasured his special relationship with his niece and nephew, Susan Frankino and Brud Pomphrey. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Florence Clayton (Sagurton), and his siblings, Harry, Georgiana, Marie, and Nancy. The family would also like to thank Jim’s caregiver, Tina, for the care, kindness, and compassion she showed him each day.

Jim proudly served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1968. After returning home, Jim joined the Red Bank Police Department on March 1, 1970. He worked his way through the ranks and ultimately served as Chief of Police for eight years before retiring in 2003. He took great pride in serving the town where he had spent his life.

He was a proud Poppop to his ten grandchildren: Victoria, Savannah, Lauren, Christine, Beau, Charlotte, Julia, James, Jeffrey, and Kristian, who absolutely adored him. Some of their favorite memories with him were the simple, funny moments they shared together. He loved being silly, singing and dancing to his favorite country and doo wop tunes, and would never pass up a beach ball volley from his recliner. He was a familiar face at their sporting events and made even the most ordinary outings memorable and had a special bond with each of them.

Jim and Ellen could often be found patrolling Red Bank, making their rounds through town and stopping at Marine Park to watch the sunset. Jim always had the trendiest sneakers and a new pair of sunglasses for his daily trips to the beach, where he enjoyed working on his tan. You could often find him mowing the lawn and caring for his beautifully manicured yard, where he proudly flew the American flag. He loved nothing more than sitting outside, watching the cars go by.

Jim was a true gentleman and a genuinely sweet man. He was a man of few words, but his quiet sense of humor and quick wit always made his family laugh. He was calm, loyal, tough, and never one to complain. Jim’s greatest legacy is the love he gave his family, which will live on forever.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 17, 2026 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad Street, Red Bank, NJ. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 18, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. at St. James Church, 94 Broad Street, Red Bank, NJ. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in Jim’s memory to: Red Bank PBA, 90 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701, or Little Silver EMS, 480 Prospect Avenue, Little Silver, NJ 07739.