Carl Virgil Clay

Funeral Service for Carl Clay will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 10, 2014 at the Claremore Assembly of God Church. Pastor Dave Mewbourne will officiate. Burial with military honors by the U.S. Navy will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery under the direction of the MMS-Payne Funeral Funeral Home & Cremation Service. Visitation will be held Sunday, March 9, 2014 from 1-6 p.m., with family greeting friends from 3-5 p.m..

Carl passed away Tuesday, March 4, 2014 in Claremore at the age of 86.

The son of Ira and Effie Barton Clay was born December 19, 1927 in Bearden, Oklahoma. As a young boy he and his family moved to Pryor. He lived there until the age of 14. At that time he felt he was old enough to take care of himself, and ventured out into the working world. He traveled toward Texas where he began working for some local ranchers. However at the age of 17, with signed permission from his father, Carl joined the United States Navy. With the conclusion of World War II, Carl finished his Navy commitment and returned home to Oklahoma. In 1972, he was introduced to Dorothy Jean Foster and on Aug. 23 of that same year they were married in Sherman, TX. At that time he was working in Tulsa at American Optical. Tired of the drive to Tulsa, he opened Clay Opticians in Claremore in the mid 1970's. He owned and operated the business until the early part of the 1990's. Carl didn't have many hobbies, but he did take time on a few occasions to play the base guitar for the Ted Humphreys Gospel Talent Band, and occasionally he would even sing. He felt being with his family was the greatest enjoyment. He always looked forward to seeing his grandchildren play sports, and Thursday nights when his boys would come get him for boys night out. Carl was also active in Church, regularly he attended the Claremore Assembly of God, and served on the board of directors for Jesus Outreach in Bunch, Oklahoma.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Ira and Effie Clay, and sister Jeannie Brewer.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy of the home; Carl’s children, David Clay and wife Brenda of Owasso, Darel Clay of Claremore, Lori Judd of Sand Springs, and Lori Erwin and husband Bobby of Claremore; grandchildren, Cassandra Clay, Rachel Clay, Jenifer Skeans, Andrea Gondles, Josh Jones, Faith Judd, Destinee Judd, Missy McCullough and Bailey Erwin; 9 great-grandchildren, and siblings, Calvin Clay, Joyce Lee Clay, Geraldine Terry, and Cory Verbryke.