Blanche L (Fridlington) Clay

CLAY, FRIDLINGTON, UMBENHOWER, MCNAMEE, DECOU, BEAVER, VANDEKIEFT

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/6/2014 at 06:02:06

Blanche Lorraine Clay, 96, of Stonebrook Community, Mt. Pleasant, died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, at her residence.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. The Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant, has been entrusted with Lorraine’s arrangements.

Mrs. Clay, the former Blanche Lorraine Fridlington, was born March 4, 1913, near Harvey. She was the daughter of Fred and Elizabeth Evalana (Umbenhower) Fridlington. She received her education at the Tracy Consolidated School and the Marion County schools. On Sept. 20, 1930, in Belvedere, Ill., Lorraine was united in marriage to Harley Dean Clay. To this union, one son, Donald Dean Clay, was born Sept. 8, 1931.

Following the death of her husband on June 19, 1961, Lorraine was employed as a Sales Associate at the Fabric Shop in Mt. Pleasant. She retired in September 1982.

Mrs. Clay was a member of the Congregational Church of Mt. Pleasant. She was a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Bethlehem Chapter #38. She had served in many of the offices of Easter Star. She served as Worth Matron of Bethlehem Chapter when it observed its 75th, 100th and 125th anniversaries. She was a member of the OES Past Matrons, R.S.V.P., Nimble Thimble Quilt Club and the Henry County Genealogical Society. Lorraine was a poll worker for numerous city, state and federal elections. She volunteered an untold number of hours working at the blood drives of the Red Cross and Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Centers. She received several honors for the time she donated to the blood center drives.

Those thankful for sharing in Lorraine’s life include a son and his wife, Donald and Phyllis Clay of Normal, Ill., 2 granddaughters, Donna Clay and her friend William McNamee of Indian Head Park, Ill., and Deanna DeCou and husband Michael of Mesa, Ariz.; two great granddaughters, Kelly and Brianna McNamee and one great grandson, Shea DeCou; a sister, Vera Beaver of Knoxville; a brother, Maurice Fridlington of Hemet, Calif.; several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

In addition to her parents and husband, Lorraine is preceded in death by 3 brothers, Thomas, James and Lyle Fridlington and 3 sisters, Mary Ann Fridlington, Lora Johns and Ruth VandeKieft.

Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Congregational Church of Mt. Pleasant, the Bethlehem Chapter #38 Order of the Eastern Star or the American Red Cross.