Clayton Eugene Peters, 91, of Lincoln, peacefully entered the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sept. 12, 2026, after a brief illness.
He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, dentist, and friend, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Clayton was born in Henderson on July 5, 1935, to Cornelius and Louise Peters, and he grew up there. He followed Christ with devotion from an early age. After dental school at the University of Nebraska, Clayton and his wife, Carolyn, along with their infant son, Carey, served as medical missionaries with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in the Congo, Africa, from 1963 to 1965. They returned to the U.S. and made Milford their home for the next 34 years.
Clayton loved small-town life, including the fellowship and service he found at Bellwood Mennonite Church. Affectionately known as "Doc" by all who knew him, it is possible that he knew the name of nearly every resident in Milford. He genuinely enjoyed meeting people and talking with them — an interesting trait for a dentist, whose patients were often in no position to talk back: "Open wide, please." He valued his patients deeply and purposefully kept his rates low to better serve the community he loved.
Dad was proud of his sons — oh, yes! We were keenly aware of that, sometimes to the point of embarrassment. He would often meet a stranger while we were around and say, "See those boys? They're my sons…" and then proceed to tell them perhaps more than they wanted to hear (or we wanted them to know) about us. He came to love his daughters-in-law just as much when they joined the family, and they broadened his interests into different types of fields, ones that did not involve sports, Husker football, or farming.
Clayton was a devoted and loving husband to Carolyn for nearly 65 years, until her passing just 30 days before his own. A two-time cancer survivor himself, he was especially attentive to her needs over the last 20 years, as scoliosis made daily activities increasingly difficult for her. Together, they took great joy in raising their family. After moving to Lincoln in 1999, they continued their Christian fellowship and service at Faith Bible Church.
An especially important part of Clayton's life was his spiritual leadership within the family. His faith was consistent, strong, and always evident. From the time his sons were young through having grown grandchildren, he regularly led the family in devotions — and it was not uncommon for him to grow emotional in these moments, as he emphasized the importance of Christian faith.
Clayton is survived by his three sons, Carey (Beth) of Knoxville, Tennessee, and their children, Graham and Grace (Beau), Stacey (Becky) of Plainfield, Indiana, and their children, Isabelle, Simeon, and Silas; and Chad (Liz) of Lincoln, and their children, Ella and Claire. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Dara (Peters) Odbert; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Clayton was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Peters; his parents, Cornelius and Louise Peters; and his brother, Jim Peters.
The funeral service was Sept. 20. A special thank-you goes to the caring staff at Eventide Assisted Living (formerly Tabitha GracePointe) for their care over the past two years. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Youth for Christ, 6401 Pine Lake Road, Lincoln, NE 68516.
Arrangements by Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home in Lincoln.
