Clinton Lyle Lay , of Valley Center, was born May 9, 1938, the 6th of 8 children, to Walter Daw Lay and Lottie Eleanor Kauffman, in Abilene, Kansas. He passed on November 30, 2019, at the age of 81 years, after a long period of failing health.

Clinton graduated Wilsey High School; did custom farming, drove a cattle truck for Jay Trucking of Wilsey, Kansas and helped his father on their dairy farm. Clinton served 8 years in the National Guard, as a Staff Sargent in the infantry, field artillery and engineer unit, in Council Grove, Kansas.

After marrying Barbara Gowen in 1966, he moved to Wichita, where they resided in the same location for 53 years. Clinton was a tool and die machinist and experimental machinist, working at Boeing, Three Way Pattern, Hallum Tooling, Cessna Aircraft and retiring after 15 years at Beechcraft/Raytheon, in 2000. He also worked many part time jobs; Sandy's Hamburgers, delivering Godfather's Pizzas, delivering firewood that he and his sons had cut and delivering the Wichita Eagle Beacon with his family for 25 years. He taught 2 years at Wichita Vo-Tech, tool and die and geometry.

Clinton became a Christian at age 10 years. He was a member of Wilsey Christian Church, New Life Christian Church, serving as Elder, and 50 years at Woodlawn Christian Church and Countryside Christian Church, where he served as deacon and youth sponsor. He sang in the choir and was the "bouncer" when Barbara taught Youth Sunday School.  Clinton traveled to 49 of our 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, cruised Alaska, Suez Canal, Panama Canal and the Nile. He visited most of the providences in Canada, toured the Holy Lands of Israel and Egypt, traveling to 17 different countries. Clinton enjoyed and was proud of his children, 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. His greatest joy was bragging about his awesome grandkids.

Clinton joins his father and mother, brothers and sisters. The close family circle is once again complete. Clinton is preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Lottie Lay, all of his siblings, Gilbert Lay, Donald Lay, Rolland Lay, Virginia Wigle, Eleanor Rindt, Phyllis Anderson and Laverna Leeson, son Alan Lay and granddaughter Laura Lay. Clinton is survived by his wife of 53 years, Barbara Lay; his children Michael (Kim) Lay and Heather (Jim) Berkheimer; his grandchildren Brandon Lay, Travis (Kaitie) Lay, Joshua Lay, Rachel (Regan) Messner, Kristina Lay, Anna Lay, Melissa Lay, Cate Berkheimer and Grace Berkheimer; great grandchildren Alauria Messner and Alec Messner, with a third great grandchild expected in December. Clinton is also survived by a large extended family of nieces, nephews, brothers in law, sisters in law and friends.

Service 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 14, at the Countryside Christian Church, Wichita, Kansas. A memorial has been established with the Madison Educational Fund (Gowen-Lay Memorial Scholarship), MEAF, Linda Wilson, P.O. Box 428, Madison, KS 66860.   Cremation has taken place and Clinton will be interred at Blakely Cemetery, Madison KS, a long side his son.  Condolences may be left for the family  at  www.bakerfhvc.com