Obituary: Clayson Elmer Dunlap, Jr.

Obituary: Clayson Elmer Dunlap, Jr.

A funeral service for Clayson Elmer Dunlap, Jr. will be held on December 27, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home in Marksville, Louisiana, officiated by Brother Keith Lamartiniere.

A visitation will be held Friday evening, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home in Marksville, lasting until 9:00 p.m., and will reopen Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. until time of service. Burial will follow at the French Cemetery in Effie, Louisiana.

Clayson Elmer Dunlap, Jr. passed from this life surrounded by love on December 19, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of music & family. He was a devoted father, a proud grandfather, & a loving great grandfather whose gentle spirit touched everyone who knew him.

Known by all as Junior, he was the epitome of "never met a stranger." To know him was to know kindness, humor & talent. He was one of a kind. Cooking for his family & friends, both old & experimental TikTok recipes, was his love language. Additionally, Junior was a talented musician with the ability to play “Last Date” by Floyd Cramer better than anyone—a song that will forever carry his memory and fill hearts with both comfort and joy. He was an extraordinarily kind soul—truly everyone’s best friend—who treasured his family deeply.

Left to cherish his memory earthside are his son, Clayson Elmer Dunlap III “Trey” (Alea), daughter Amy Dodge (Wesley), and stepdaughter Mandi Beckham (David). He was a proud grandfather to Katelyn Dodge (Christian), Laikyn Tigner (Kolten), & Alexis Brown (Taylor), and a loving great grandfather to Fallon Tigner and Elenor Hall.

He is also survived by brothers Roger (Kathie) and Darrell “DD” (Linda), his sister Brenda Lofton (Lynn), along with many cherished nieces, nephews, extended family members, and countless friends who were blessed to know him.

Junior was preceded in death by his mother Omega (Midge) Fern Wiley Dunlap and his father Clayson (Smiley) Elmer Dunlap. He will be missed greatly by all who knew him, but most of all his children will miss their daily phone calls.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Wesley Dodge, David Beckham, Kim Wiley, Avery Belgard, Christian Frederick, and Kolten Tigner. Honorary pallbearers are Roger Dunlap, Darrell Dunlap, Lynn Lofton, and Kerry Spurill.

The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff at Ochsner New Orleans for the care they provided.