William Edward Clay

William "Bill" Clay, 67, of Malvern, passed away on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at Nebraska Methodist Hospital in Omaha, NE. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 12, 2014 at Loess Hills Funeral Home in Malvern. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2014 at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Malvern Cemetery.

Memorial fund has been established

William Edward Clay, one of four children of Blanche Irene (Johnson) and Basil Henry Clay, was born on June 23, 1947 in Omaha, Nebraska. He grew up in Malvern, Iowa and graduated from the Malvern High School in 1965. Bill farmed with his father earlier in his adult life. He began work for CDI, a controlled demolition business based out of Baltimore, Maryland (doing what some little boys only dream of doing, blowing up buildings) and did much traveling to the different job locations. Bill returned to Kansas City, Missouri where he worked for the American Compressed Steel Corporation, operating heavy equipment. Bill went on his own and started B & C Iron in Kansas City and continued operating heavy equipment that scraped metal. After he sold the business, he commuted from Kansas City to Grand Island, Nebraska where he operated an excavator at Alters Scrap Yard.

Bill loved cars, especially Corvettes, watching NASCAR and drag races. He enjoyed golfing and traveling, with Arizona as his favorite destination. Bill loved spending time with his three sisters and their families, whom he adored dearly and were a big part of his life. He was a wonderful son, brother, uncle, and a good friend to all who knew him.

Bill was an inspiration to his fellow co-workers at Alters while he battled lung cancer. After his treatment, he was soon back on the job doing what he loved best, operating an excavator. For the past two years, Bill has lived in Malvern while he was sick, but his heart was still back home in Kansas City.

Bill passed away on December 9, 2014 at the Nebraska Methodist Hospital in Omaha, following his lengthy illness, at the age of 67 years, 5 months, and 16 days. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Bill is survived by his sisters, Carolyn Porter and husband Darrell of Red Oak, IA, Lois Henderson of Malvern, and Janice Bolton and husband Fred of Malvern; nieces and nephews, Andy Porter and wife Sheryl of Stanton, IA, Susan Benton and husband Todd of Nebraska City, NE, Sherri Vrabel of Red Oak, Chad Henderson and wife Julie of Tabor, IA, Kristen Akers and husband Justin of Kellerton, IA, and Brad Bolton of Bellevue, NE; great nieces and nephews, Josh Porter, Morgan Porter, Blair Benton, Zachary Benton, Cassady Vrabel, Joshua and Jacob Henderson, and Franklin, Caroline, and Sadie Akers; and many friends.