April 27, 2013

Funeral for Rudolph Hawthorne Clay, 91, of Eva was April 30, at 1:00 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Elder Ernie Stump officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.

Burial with military honors was in Burningtree Memorial Gardens.

Mr. Clay died Sat., April 27, 2013, at Decatur-Morgan Hospital. He was born May 14, 1921, in Marshall County, to Homer C. Clay and Eva Anderson Clay. Mr. Clay served in the United States Navy during World War II, serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters. He fought in the invasions of Normandy, France and in Okinawa. He retired at the age of 74 from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America as an International Representative, serving several states in the Southeast for over 20 years. Prior to his service as an International Representa-tive, he served as a business agent for Local Union #1556 in Huntsville for 20 years. He was a caring and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a hard worker all his life and expected the same of others. His work ethic was unsurpassed.

Mr. Clay was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Venita J. Clay; his

parents; brothers, John B. Clay and David Clay; and sisters Bertha Bumgardner and Ruby Clay.

He is survived by his sisters Ruth Shadell of Mayflower, Ark., and Thelma Pence and husband Alton of Levelland, Texas; son, Michael Clay of Peachtree City, Ga.; three daughters, Connie Martin and husband Barry of Decatur, Anita

John-son of Gardendale and Barbara Swafford of New Hope; grandchildren, Clay Martin and wife Kim, Jennifer Crawford and husband Allen, Rebecca Barnes and husband Greg, Robbie Johnson and wife Becky, Michelle Johnson, Whitney Johnson, Matthew Clay and Alexandra Clay; 10 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Virginia and James “Zeb” Nelson of Eva and Dot and Jerry Summerford of Madison; and several special nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Jeff Bumgardner, Terry Stump, Chip Summerford,

Joshua Pruitt, Wesley Stump and Jamie Barrentine.

The family would like to give special thanks to the nurses, staff, aides and other caregivers at U.S.A. Decatur Morgan Health and Rehab, who cared so much for Mr. Clay over the past three months. Not only did they care for him, but he also cared greatly for them.