Tommy Lee Clay of Mason, Texas passed away on Wednesday, October 15, at the age of 76. Visitation will be Friday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mason Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 18, at 11:00 a.m. at River of Life Church in Mason. Burial will be in the Gooch Cemetery in Mason, Texas on Monday, October 20, at 2:00 p.m. Serving as pallbearers are Todd Clay, Brad Clay, Royce Clay, Larry Kemp, Elijah Dickinson and Shiloh Dickinson.

Survivors include his wife Nancy Clay, of Mason, sons Todd Clay and wife Robyn of Georgetown, Texas, Bradley Clay and wife Lana of Austin, Texas, a brother Royce Clay of Colorado City, Texas, and 5 grandchildren: Collin Clay and wife Meredith of Houston, Charys Clay of Austin, Abby Clay, Dalton Clay and Owen Clay all of Austin, a sister-in-law Loretta Clay of Shamrock, and one great-grandchild on the way! Tommy was preceded in death by his brother Billy Clay.

Tommy was born in Shamrock, Texas, on June 28, 1938 to Bryce and Lorene Clay. He attended Lubbock Christian College, Harding College, Pepperdine University, and graduated from Abilene Christian College in 1964 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. While attending Lubbock Christian University, Tommy was a member of the first graduating class and chosen "Mr. Lubbock Christian College" in 1959, and named outstanding student for 1958-59. Tommy served as president of his sophomore class and was missions study leader in 1958-59. In 1959 he was chosen as the first president of the Lubbock Christian College alumni association.

In 1964 Tommy married Nancy Cunningham from Toronto, Ontario, Canada and they had two sons, Todd Weston and Bradley Lee Clay.

Tommy was an ordained minister of the gospel and held positions in churches in Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado. A prolific speaker, counselor and writer, Tommy authored several manuscripts for Christian publications. As a gifted poet, Tommy was the recipient of the Distinguished Member award from the International Society of Poets for his contribution to poetry.

Tommy was a lover of the outdoors which he expressed so vividly in his poetry in "The Living Legacy of Love… "I have hunted the wild geese, the ducks and the quail in flight; I've even followed a good hunting dog through the magic meadows of the milky way in my dreams at night."

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Harmony Outreach (rescuing orphans and spreading the gospel) http://harmonyoutreach.org/ or to River of Life Church, Mason, Texas.