Clayton Lee Nichalson, 81, of New Whiteland, Indiana passed away Friday, November 16, 2012 at Johnson County Memorial Hospital in Franklin, Indiana. He was born June 13, 1931 in Seymour, Indiana to Roy and Hazel (Foist) Nichalson. He married Evelyn J. Johnson on January 2, 1955 in Seymour, Indiana, and she survives. Clayton had been a professional printer and supervisor for the Indiana Freemason Print Shop located on the grounds of the Indiana Masonic Home in Franklin, Indiana for forty years. He was a member of Jubilee Masonic Lodge #746 in Whiteland, Indiana where he had served as past Master and served faithfully over a decade as Secretary. He was a fifty year member of the Masonic Lodge, and received the Award of Gold. He was also a member of the Indianapolis Valley of the Scottish Rite and received the Meritorious Service Award and the award of the Council of Deliberation. Also a member of the York Rite Royal Arch Mason, Commandry, and Knights Templer, he was also a member of Marvin L. Isley York Rite College #129 in Fairland, Indiana. He was 18 when he joined the DeMolay and in later years received the DeMolay Legion of Honor. He was a member of the Murat Shrine in Indianapolis, Indiana and Johnson County Shrine Club where he and his wife were members of the Hillbillies Club. Clayton was a United States Air Force Veteran of the Korean War, having served two of his four years of service in Japan. He developed highly classified photos of Arial Reconnaissance missions during his time in the Korean Theater. He was a member of the Greenwood (Indiana) American Legion Post 252 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7978 in Whiteland. He was an avid Colts fan, and enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, working in his garage and tinkering on various projects, and was skillful in working with his hands. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Survivors include his wife Evelyn; sons Terry L. (Vina) and Randy J. (Debbie), both of Bargersville, Indiana, Tim A. Nichalson of New Whiteland; daughter Melanie A. Gallagher (Patrick) of Indianapolis; brother Elmer Nichalson (Carol) of Seymour, Indiana; three grandchildren, Lindsey Nichalson of Beech Grove, Indiana, Bobbi McMasters (Daniel) of Greenwood, Indiana and Alex Clayton Nichalson of Bargersville; two great-grandchildren, Evelyn Rose and Kennedy Jean McMasters. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Earl, Beverley, Leslie, and Roland Nichalson; sister Gertrude Stivers; and great-grandchild Jonathan David McMasters.
Jubilee Masonic Lodge will conduct a Masonic Service at 11 A.M. Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin, Indiana with a service immediately following by the Reverend Walter Howard. Friends may call Tuesday, November 20, 2012 from
4 P.M. until 8 P.M. at the mortuary. Entombment will be in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Greenwood with full military honors. The family requests memorial contributions are made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Pointe Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607. Online condolences may be sent to the family at: www.swartzmortuary.com. Information: 317-738-0202.

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