Elmer Ursa Lay, age 84, of Lewistown, Missouri, passed away Friday, February 18, 2011, at Country Aire Retirement Estates in Lewistown, Missouri.
He was born April 15, 1926, at Williamstown, Missouri, the son of Homer G. and Mada Thompkins Lay.
Mr. Lay was raised in the Williamstown area. He lived in Lewis County all his life, where he attended Bunker Hill rural school, LaBelle schools and graduated from Ewing High School. He served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict from 1950 to 1952, receiving the Korean service medal with four bronze stars and the United Nations service medal. Mr. Lay was employed with ASCS in Monticello for many years, sold crop insurance and was engaged in farming in the Ewing area. Ursa was a member of the First Christian Church at LaBelle, Missouri. He loved dancing, country music and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
Surviving are four children, Dean Lay and wife Debbie of Lewistown, Missouri, Becky Beach and husband Ken of Davenport, Iowa, Kent Lay of Quincy, Illinois, and John Lay and wife Shelly of Hamilton, Illinois. Also surviving are three brothers, Vincel Lay, Ralph Lay and wife Marilyn and Mervin Lay all of Lewistown, Missouri, six grandchildren Donna Dunn and husband Lonnie, Michael Lay and wife A.J., Kristin Lay, Kelsey Lay and Ryan Lay, two step grandchildren, Steve DeRusso and Chrissy DeRusso, one great-grandchild Lila Lay and six step great-grandchildren, Magan Dunn, Logan Dunn, Ann Marie Johnson, Shelby Johnson, Natalie DeRusso and Steve DeRusso II, and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Lay was preceded in death by his parents, one grandson John Lay, five sisters, Erma Williams, Loraine Miller, Twila Gibson, Faylene Reardon and Thelma Blakely and three brothers, Bruce, Virgil and Melvin Lay.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 21, 2011, at the Coder Funeral Home in LaBelle, Missouri. Officiating the services will be Dr. Thomas L. Henderson. Burial with full military honors will be in the Lewistown Cemetery conducted by Lewiston American Legion Post # 578.
Casket bearers will be Doug Lay, Colby Lay, Leroy Wagner, Kevin Cheney, Brian Cheney and Danny Sparks. Honorary bearer will be Paul Hudnut.
Visitation will be held Sunday, February 20, 2011, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Coder Funeral Chapel in LaBelle, Missouri.
Memorials may be made to Country Aire Retirement Estates and may be left at or mailed to Coder Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 151, LaBelle, Missouri, 63447.
www.hudsonrimerfh.com