Clara Jay

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Clara Jenell (Winchester) Jay was born on June 6, 1939, in rural Neosho Missouri to Clarence and Ruby (Hopkins) Winchester.

No one is around to say for sure, but she may have been born laughing. She loved to laugh even when no one else got the joke. What she felt, she felt deeply. Around the age of 3, she felt that she was going to marry Riley Jay; she did just that on March 24, 1963.

Photography was a constant part of her life; her first and last workplaces centered around it. When she worked at Firestone’s Department Store, she sold the love of her life his first camera. Throughout their life’s journey together, Riley and Clara photographed portraits, weddings, scenery, and grandkids.

 

She loved her family. Clara was a preacher’s wife, a very present help and loyal defender. Riley preceded her death, which was by God’s grace, because he would’ve been lost without her. The children with which God blessed them with are Darren and Pam (Spencer) Jay of Alexandria, VA; Brent and Phyllis (Evangelista) Jay of Goodman, MO, Craig and Erin (Brown) Jay of Lebanon, MO; Laura and Landis Brown of Rindge, NH. These children further blessed her with grandchildren, Thomas and Lani Eli (Ball) Jay, Joseph and Keyshla (Muniz) Jay, Daniel Jay, Riley Jay, Isabelle Jay, Violet Brown, Maddie Jay, Caleb Jay, Aidan Brown, Harrison Jay, Jillian Jay, and Ewan Brown, and great-grandchildren Olivia and Lilliana Jay. All survive her.

Clara is also survived by 6 sisters, Twyla (Wayne) Crabb, Gloria (Richard) Bledsoe, Larry (Katha) Winchester, Pamela Murphy, Jerry (Sharon) Winchester, Karla (Tommy) Burr, Jan (Kevin) Lankford, and Joy (Dan) Krohn as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and Riley, she is preceded in death by sisters Linda Davidson and Lorita Brock, brothers-in-law, Larry Murphy and Paul Brock.

Visitation
Wednesday, January 05, 2022
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Clark Chapel of Memories 312 S. Wood St.
Neosho, MO 64850

Funeral Service
Wednesday, January 05, 2022
2:00 PM
Clark Chapel of Memories 312 S. Wood St.
Neosho, MO 64850

Interment will follow in the New Salem Cemetery. Contributions in memory of Clara may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 66; Neosho, Missouri 64850