Henry Lay

Henry J Lay, 75, of Borger passed away Thursday October 13th in Amarillo to be with his Lord. Celebration of Life will be 2:00 pm Monday October 17th at Word of Life Church with Pastor Norman Shuman officiating. Burial will be at Highland Park Cemetery under the direction of MintonChatwell Funeral Directors of Borger,Texas.

Henry J Lay was born November 17, 1935 in Pine Valley, Oklahoma, the tenth of eleven children to William and Willy Lay. He grew up in Wright City, Oklahoma, where he learned to sing and love gospel music as he sang with quartets at local churches.

Henry married Fern Nance on February 16, 1957 at Valliant, Oklahoma. They moved to California where he earned a living working in the oil field before deciding to return to Oklahoma to attend South Eastern Oklahoma University where he earned his masters degree in music and began his lifetime career teaching choral music. He taught for thirty three years over which time his choirs earned many distinctive awards. He was honored when selected by the American Youth Symphonic Band and Chorus to put together and lead choirs from the Borger area to perform concerts throughout Europe which he did in the summers of 1974, 1976 and 1982. Throughout the years, Henrys life was blessed by the students he taught, and he always carried joyful memories of their voices, achievements, and time spent together. After Henrys retirement from teaching, he attended and graduated from Rhema Bible Training Institute in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The greatest love in Henrys life was his wife, Fern and their three children, Frank Lay and wife Danie, Bobby Lay and wife Beverly, Cathy Pesch and husband Eddie. Grandchilden James Lay, Adam Lay, Dylan Lay, Amanda Jones and husband Brandon, Travis Bubba Lay, Ty Lay, Matt Henderson and wife Brittany and Shelbi Henderson. Great Grandchildren Angel and Sam, Wyatt and Emma, Peyton and Sage, and Madison and Brantley. Brothers Floyd Lay and Otis Lay. Sisters Joyce Bryant, Lois Thompson, and Janice Carey all of Klammath Falls, Oregon and countless nieces, nephews and friends.

Henry loved the Lord with all his heart and dedicated much of his life to music ministry in the church. His service included Bunavista Baptist, Calvary Baptist, First Baptist of Phillips, Abundant Life Fellowship, and Word of Life Church where he was a founding and current member. He also enjoyed fellowship with family and friends, studying the Bible, watching the Dallas Mavs, and cutting fire wood.

Henry was loved so much and will be missed greatly.

Service

Funeral Service

Word of Life Church
Bunavista
Borger, TX  79007
Monday, October 17, 2011
2:00 pm

Cemetery

Highland Park CemeteryH
931 Sterling St.
Borger, TX  79007

Memorial Contributions

3915 Bell St.
Amarillo, TX  79109


P. O. Box 3238
Borger, TX  79007


3505 Olsen Blvd
Amarillo, TX  79109