Velma Lucille Clay

Velma L. Clay, 91, of Glenwood, passed away on December 18, 2014 at the Glen Haven Home in Glenwood. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2014 at the East Liberty Cemetery north of Malvern with Rev. Mike Stevens officiating. No visitation is scheduled.

Memorials: East Liberty Cemetery Association

Velma Lucille Clay, youngest of two daughters of Archibald "Arch" Clifton and Ora Ruby (Alexander) Clay, was born on October 23, 1923 on a farm in Ingraham Township, located in Mills County, north of Malvern, Iowa. She along with her older sister, Edna Irene, grew up in the East Liberty neighborhood and attended Pleasant Valley and Osborne Valley rural schools. As was the custom for many farm families of the day, Velma only completed her education through the 8th grade, graduating from Osborne Valley in the Mills County graduation exercises.

Velma was an active member of the East Liberty Methodist Church where she attended youth group and Vacation Bible School while growing up. She and her sister were members of the Junior Choir which added greatly to the Sunday church services. In later years, Velma was a member of the Women's Society of Christian Service (WSCS).

Velma's father farmed and operated a trucking business and both girls helped with farm work, raising chickens, butchering, tending the garden, canning, and all the household chores. They enjoyed music and had an upright piano in their living room. The girls had the usual pets of cats and dogs, but they also raised runt pigs which soon became pets.

Velma was an avid photographer and writer in her younger years. Even with no formal education, she was a great journalist for news about the neighborhood and her family and could have easily created a neighborhood newspaper. Her many photographs captured some of her special family farming memories.

Velma enjoyed sewing, quilting and writing. Newspapers were her choice of reading material. She and her family moved to the home of her grandparents on Lincoln Avenue in Malvern following the death of her grandfather, William Clay, in 1958. After the death of her father, Velma moved with her mother and sister to a house on Main Street, where they could watch the world go by. They later moved to Silver City, Iowa and in 1984, moved to Glenwood, Iowa to live on Vine Street, just south of the post office. When her sister died, Velma moved to an apartment at Loess Hills Estates, where she made many friends.

Velma passed away on December 18, 2014 at the Glen Haven Home in Glenwood, where she had been in hospice care for several months. She attained the age of 91 years, 1 month, and 25 days and was preceded in death by her father, Arch, in 1969; her mother, Ora, in 1985; and her sister Edna in 2001; and by many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Dozens of her cousins, extended family and a host of friends are left to mourn her passing.