CAROL SUE CLAY
CAROL SUE CLAY
Carol Sue Clay passed away peacefully on August 21, 2021 at the Milan Health Care Center after a long, but courageous battle with lung cancer.
She was born on March 01, 1951 to Dale Burtis and Viola Reba (Walker) Cooper in Kirksville, MO.
Carol was united in marriage to William “Harold” Clay on October 17, 1980.
She was preceded in death by: her husband, William “Harold” Clay on January 19, 2006 ; a step-daughter, Susan Cunningham on December14, 2006; her father, Dale Burtis Cooper on January 20, 1998; her step-mother, Vesta Fay (Noble) Cooper on January 09, 2000; her mother, Viola Reba (Walker) Cooper on October 23, 1953 during childbirth; an infant brother, John Ray Cooper on October 23, 1953; her paternal grandparents, John Edward and Mary Jane (Loughead) Cooper; her maternal grandparents, Ray and Blanche (Woods) Walker; and many other family and friends.
Carol is survived by: a son, Edward McNish (Elisha); a daughter, Kathy Daniels (Danny); a step-daughter, Betty Jo Posey (Jim); a step-daughter, Vicki King (Russell); several grandchildren, Clay, Audrey, Aiden, Emma, Lance, Sonja, Heather, Melissa, Jamie, and Jennifer; as well as numerous great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; and numerous nephews and nieces. All of which were very special to her! She was also survived by: a very special neighbor, Harry Harrison; a special friend, Mary Jo Hauser; her special friends, David and Kathleen Hauser (whom were a lot like children to her); their children, Henry and Hugh (whom she treated like her own grandchildren); and numerous other family members and friends.
She worked at the nursing home after graduating high school, and later helped in the kitchen at the Milan Hospital for a bit. She was a housewife and stay at home mother most of the time. She loved to garden, can, bake, cook, and spending time with family, friends, and most of all her grandchildren. She especially loved to bake and cook for other people, as well as sharing what she harvested from the garden with friends and family! She loved to try new recipes and new cooking gadgets. Her cooking will be missed by many, almost as much as she will be! She also enjoyed to read, color, putting puzzles together, and doing word searches. She was a simple woman, who enjoyed the simpler things in life. She was a very caring woman, who would do anything for anybody, even though at times she was stern and could be very outspoken. Not a trait that everyone loved, but she was true to who she was. She liked to ride around the countryside and reminisce about old times. She liked to talk on the phone a lot to friends and family, gossiping back and forth mostly, or talking about the day’s news as she would have called it. Again, a trait that not everyone liked or agreed with, but an important part of who she was. Unfortunately, a lot of the people she gossiped with had major health issues or passed before her, and the information highway slowed down.
She was a brave woman, that fought a very courageous battle against lung cancer. She won the first time against stage 3 lung cancer, but after battling several other health issues before her last battle with lung cancer, her body was just too weak to win this time. Although very skeptical in the beginning, she never regretted fighting and would encourage others to do so, it wasn’t until her body got so weak that she just couldn’t fight anymore, that she told the Lord that she was too tired and weak to fight any longer and she was ready to go with him. She would tell people that if you don’t want to fight for yourselves, then do it for your children and grandchildren, they are worth it!
There will not be a memorial service due to Covid making a raging comeback, and she wouldn’t want anyone getting sick by coming to remember her. So just remember her with all the wonderful memories and stories you have of her. Also, if you would like to help out in any way, just donate to the American Cancer Society or any charity of your choice. Ruschmeier Funeral Home in Green City is handling arrangements.
