William Weatherford T. Clayton was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. He was a missionary in the French Canadian Mission and graduated from the University of Utah Medical School, later completing a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He and his wife served as mission leaders in the Canada Toronto Mission and later as chair of Missionary Health Services for the Missionary Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and his wife have five children.