Nancy L Clay

Nancy Lane Clay, age 95, passed away peacefully at her home on April 13th. She was born and raised in Derby, a coal camp in Southwest Virginia. She was the daughter of HDR Lane and Cleo Lane. Her siblings that all have passed were Peggy Edens, Mary Ellen Munoz, and Herald D. Lane. She met her husband, John Clay, at Appalachia High School and left college at Lincoln Memorial University to marry him in 1948.

John and Nancy moved to Dayton, Ohio in 1952. She is preceded in death by her husband, John in 2011, her son, John Jr. in 2010, her daughter Lisa in 1986, and her son-in-law, David Amlin in 2017. She is survived by her daughter, Christy Amlin, grandchildren Andrew (Erin), Emily, CJ (Tasya), Marcus, Gary (Elisha) and 15 great grandchildren.

She retired from Elder Beerman and Estee Lauder in 1984. She enjoyed spending Winter in Naples, Florida from 1988 to 2026. The family attended Trinity Methodist Church where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday School. With her children, she was always a room mother at school, Campfire leader, and den mother. She taught line dancing at Enchanting Shores in Florida and at the Vandalia Senior Citizens Center. She grew the best tomatoes which she shared with neighbors. Her most important “assignment” was being a good wife and mother. She loved her heritage as a coal miner's daughter and her childhood community.

Services will be private and burial will be at Forest Hills Cemetery beside John Sr., John Jr., and Lisa.