Betty Lou Clay

Longtime Gainesville resident Betty Lou Clay, 86, most recently of Dallas, Texas, passed peacefully from this life on January 17, 2016, after a long-time journey with Alzheimer's Disease. She was surrounded in her final days by her children, grandchildren, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law, as well as her wonderful caregivers Mary and Susan, and hospice nurses Ollie and Happy.

Betty was born the youngest of five children in Bennington, Oklahoma on July 28, 1929, to John Sam Dawson and Edna Maude Dawson. After graduation from high school she continued on to receive a B.Ed. from Southeastern State College in Durant, and later a M.Ed. in Language Learning Disabilities from Texas Women’s University.
While attending Southeastern, Betty met Jack Clay, and they were married on January 23, 1951, and together they had three children, Cate (Cathy), Stan, and Jackye. They were married 52 years before Jack passed in 2002.

Betty worked as a Resource teacher for J.M Lindsay Elementary school for almost twenty years. She was a devoted and active member of the Gainesville First United Methodist Church where she very rarely missed a Sunday singing in the choir. She also taught Sunday School there for many years, as well as participating in many other church functions and activities. She was also actively involved in Delta Kappa Gamma Society teachers’ organization and greatly valued the professional relationships and friendships she and Jack fostered in both their lifelong careers as educators. The entire Clay family spent 15 summers at Camp Sweeney where she acted as “cabin mother” in the youngest girls’ cabin.

Betty is survived by her daughters Cate Clay (and husband Allen Brown) and Jackye Clay (and husband Michael Chrustawka), son Stan Clay and his wife Dana, grandchildren Clif Clay and wife Ashley, Jacob Clay, KC Brown and Piper Chrustawka, great-grandson Jack Clay, nephews Bob Moore, Byron Dawson, Don Dawson, and Bill Dawson, and nieces Marilyn Lindley, Linda Lindorfer and Jimmye Carter.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Clay, her parents John (Sam) and Edna Dawson, her brothers J.B. Dawson, James Dawson, and Melvin (Sam) Dawson, her sister Beulah Silverman, her nephew John Dawson, great-niece Allison Lindorfer and great-nephew Chad Carter and many dear friends.

The funeral service will be held at 10am on Saturday, January 23, at First United Methodist Church of Gainesville, TX., with Rev. Don Yeager officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery immediately following the service. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Geo. J Carroll Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) or Music and Memory (www.musicandmemory.org). The family of Betty Clay wishes to express its heartfelt gratitude to Mary, Susan, Regina and Sigei, Betty’s attentive and loving caregivers at the B and Y Residential Care Home, Crescent Hospice, and Autumn Leaves Memory Care Facility for the extraordinary care Betty received during her time with each of them.

All her life, Betty blessed those around her with her sweet disposition, infectious laugh, and loving nature. She loved her family, both the one she came from and the one she made, the Methodist Church, music, working with children, and the Democratic Party. We will remember her impish grin, her nurturing ways, and her great love for her family, friends, and students. She always worked hard, and she showed immeasurable grace through a difficult and long illness. We invite you to join us in honoring her memory.