Zella Mae Clay

Zella Mae (Greene) Clay, 80, of Clayton, passed peacefully from this life in the early morning hours of Saturday, December 23, 2023, while surrounded by those who loved her most. She was born on May 4, 1943, in Stone Creek, VA, to the late Junior and Wilma Jean (Howard) Greene. A coal miner’s daughter and born into a challenging life, Zella was tasked with duties of playing the role of the matriarch to her 8 younger siblings at an early age. She attended St. Charles High School before moving to Indiana to find a better life where she met the love of her life, Robert “Butch” Clay while working at Biff’s in Mooresville. The pair were married on December 4, 1961, and remained married for just shy of 50 years before his passing on August 10, 2010. While her children were in school, Zella spent 20 plus years as a crossing guard for Poston Elementary School where she was known and loved by all the kids. Continuing to follow what she was born to do and a hard worker, she worked a day job while taking night classes, furthering her education, and becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant. This success led her to work for several nursing homes in the area: first Kennedy Living Center for 10 years, Plainfield Health Care for 5 years, before deservingly retiring from the Worthington House. A mother of five at an early age, the family spent their summers tent camping on Lemon Lake. Zella was a talented seamstress making curtains, mending clothes, as well as sewing her daughter’s dresses for baton and cheerleading. She possessed a green thumb and thoroughly enjoyed harvesting the fruits of her labor, then canning her wares. A master in the kitchen, she was a great cook and passed on her recipes (macaroni and cheese) to her great grandchildren. Her kitchen was always open, and no one ever left hungry. Although she was stubborn as a mule at times, Zella was very loving and giving. She managed to overcome any and all obstacles life threw at her, and she inevitably made the best of them. Instilled with the ability to take care of people, she deeply loved her family. She will be forever missed but will remain in the hearts of those she held dear. Zella leaves behind her children, Lisa Frentz of Camby, Theresa Cook (Rick) of Monrovia, Jackie (Tim) Dougherty of Lexington, MO, Missy Thacker (Bruce) of Mooresville, and Robbie Clay (Angie) of Martinsville; siblings, Carl Greene (Patty) of Rockville, Delbert Greene (Shannon) of Monrovia, Mitchell Greene (Sherry) of Monrovia, Herman Greene of Liberty, KY, Billy Joe Greene (Dottie) of Spencer, Ray Greene of Carlisle, IN, Annette Campbell (Jimmy) of Troy, OH, and Donna Russell of Mt. Meridian; along with 22 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7pm, on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at Light Memorial & Funeral Chapel in Monrovia. A Celebration of Life Service will begin at 12pm, on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at the funeral home, with additional calling held an hour prior. Pastor Tim Dougherty will officiate services and burial will follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made by mail to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718, or online by clicking https://www.cancer.org/. To upload a picture on Zella’s tribute wall, share a favorite story, send the family an online condolence, sign the online guest registry, or light a candle in her memory, please visit www.lightmemorial.com.

Tributes

Zella Mae Clay

May 4, 1943 - December 23, 2023