Retired Maj. Gen. Clayton L. Comfort had an illustrious military career, but friends said Friday they remembered him most for his kindness.

Comfort, 74, died Thursday at his home.

He served 34 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, retiring as a two-star general in 1987. During his military career, Comfort, who graduated from Kansas University’s Naval ROTC program in 1952, served a stint as chief of staff for the United States Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. Upon retirement, Comfort moved to Lawrence in 1989.

Despite his distinguished career and title, friend and retired Army Lt. Col. Gordon Longabach, of Lawrence, said Comfort never flaunted his rank.

“We’d always call him ‘general’ or ‘sir,'” Longabach said. “He’s what you would call an officer and a gentleman for sure.”

Longabach said Comfort helped establish a local chapter of the Military Officers Association of America. With several other retired officers, he was involved in a legal struggle against the state in the early 1990s. The state was taxing military pensions, but not the pensions of civil employees, Longabach said. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the retired officers in April 1992.

Comfort’s involvement in organizations didn’t end with the military. He also was active in the First United Methodist Church of Lawrence. David Livingston, associate pastor, said Comfort was involved with United Methodist Men and helped organize the Greater Lawrence Christian Men’s Assn.

“Clay had a tremendous sense of a Christian’s responsibility for taking their faith outside the sanctuary and into their daily life,” Livingston said. “He lived out his faith every day.”

Comfort served as president of Lawrence Habitat for Humanity’s board of directors from 2000 to 2003. In 2002, he received the organization’s John Gingerich Award for Outstanding Service in the Mission of Lawrence Habitat for Humanity.

Obit: Clayton L. Comfort (10-16-04)

“It is with great sadness that we receive the news of Clay’s death,” said Jean Lilley, executive director of Lawrence Habitat for Humanity. “His leadership to our affiliate has been invaluable to the success of our program. We will sorely miss him.”

Comfort also was an avid bicyclist. Longabach said Comfort rode his bike across the state seven years ago and served on the city’s Bicycle Advisory Committee.

Funeral services are pending.