Joseph Leonard Clay, Jr.

Joseph 'Leonard'? Clay, Jr., 86, of 1825 W. Lakeview Drive, Johnson City, died Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at the Johnson City Medical Center. He was a native of Dickenson County, Virginia, a son of the late Joseph Leonard Clay, Sr. and Linda Stanley Clay. Leonard was a retired owner/operator of the Clintwood Lumber and Supply Company. He was an active and devoted member of the Oakland Avenue Baptist Church and his favorite bible verse was Romans 8:28. Leonard was a WWII veteran having served in the U. S. Army Air Corps. He was a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge in Clintwood, VA and the Clintwood Order of Eastern Star Chapter 144. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by five brothers, Arnold, Norman, Darrell, Grethel and Cecil; two sisters, Beatrice and Orlena. Survivors include: his wife of 63 years, Helen Harvey Clay of the home; a son and daugher-in-law, Larry and Sharon Clay of Knoxville, TN, a daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Gene Rowland of Big Stone Gap, VA, a son and daughter-in-law, Randy and Ellie Clay of Johnson City, TN; seven grandchildren, Chad Rowland, Lori Austin Sikora, Amber Rowland Mullins, Nicholas Clay, Gabriel Clay, Bradley Clay and Joseph Clay; five great grandchildren; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Eddie and Virginia Clay of Atlanta, GA, Leo and Shirley Clay of Clarksville, TN; two sisters, Virgie Boggs of Pound, VA and Lura Kiser of Clintwood, VA; several nieces and nephews. A funeral service is scheduled for Friday, February 26, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the South Chapel of the Morris '? Baker Funeral Home, under the direction of Rev. Roy Yelton and Rev. Mike Yates. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until time of service at seven. Visitation at other times at the home of his son, Randy at 801 Regency Drive, Johnson City, TN 37604. A committal service will be conducted on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. in the mausoleum chapel of the Temple Hill Memorial Park, 2529 Memorial Drive, Castlewood, VA 24224. Military Honors will be accorded by the Coburn VFW and Virginia National Guard. Masonic Rites and Eastern Star honors will be held as well. Active pallbearers will be: grandsons and a special friend Jerry Whitaker. Memorials may be made in the form of contributions in lieu of flowers to: Karis Heart Foundation, P. O. Box 6165, Johnson City, TN 37602 or karisheartfoundation.org.