SMITH, CLAYTON EDWARD JR.

SMITH, CLAYTON EDWARD JR., or Clay as he was known to close friends and veterans, 60, of Wildwood, passed away suddenly on Sunday, February 23, 2014 at his home in Wildwood, New Jersey. Originally from Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, following active duty with the United States Army, Clay moved to Wildwood, New Jersey, which he called home for the next thirty-five years. Following his initial enlistment, Clay served with distinction as a Combat Medic in the Republic of Vietnam. Clays next assignment took him to various places and then finally to Ft. Dix, New Jersey. While Clay worked several jobs in between, he found his greatest calling treating our American Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, working as a nurse at Veterans Medical Clinics for the Department of Veterans Affairs. While he loved the Army and the VA, he hid it like any good sergeant wouldby griping his way through the day about paperwork and bureaucracy. Each “complaint” was code for “passion,” never meanspirited, and always with an eye for his mission and obligation to Americas servicemen and women and their families. Though he saw many wounded warriors over the years, he never forgot what he had seen, remembering all are human beings, deserving of dignity, respect, and our collective thanks. Looking back, the happiest day of Clays life was when he met Liudmila (“Mila”) Muraveva. Now Mila Smith, she was the love of his life and the apple of his eye. He rarely went anywhere without her and was never alone by choice. After meeting Mila, holding hands on the beach and commenting on the beauty of sunsets were now acceptable forms of behavior. He might occasionally turn red from the good-natured ribbing he took from friends who mercilessly teased him about the supposed loss of his spine, but it was all okay in the end. Each night, Mila was there waiting (somewhat) patiently for him. Upon departing this world, Clayton E. Smith, Jr. leaves his Beloved Wife, Liudmila Smith, his children, Beth Ann Nickerson, Clayton E. Borneman, Timothy Nickerson, Andrey V. Muraveva, eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, niece, Margaret Terrana (nee Borneman), her husband, John Terrana, great nieces, Alison Terrana and Emily Terrana, and several cats which were overfed by Mila. Preceding him were his father, Clayton E. Smith, Sr., mother, Eva Smith (nee Gable), step-mother, Margaret E. Smith, and sister, Alice G. Borneman. Memorial Services are being held at the Cape May County Veterans Cemetery Chapel located at 129 Crest Haven Road in Cape May Court House on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. Condolences at www.radzieta.com