Dan Edward Clay peacefully ascended into the eternal comfort in the presence of God on June 23, 2013 following a brief illness. He spent his final earthly days with his family and with the attentive and compassionate staff of the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House of Huntington. He has a humble family who shall remain forever grateful for the sacrifice, love, patience, and loyalty he offered each moment of his selfless life. He is survived by his loving wife, Charlene Mason Clay, son, Bruce Edward Clay, daughter and son-in-law, Vicki Clay Sizemore and Tim Sizemore, four grandchildren, Sydney Clay Emana and husband Anthony Emana, Tyler Clay, Zachary Sizemore, and Lauren Sizemore, all of Huntington. Additional survivors include his brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Theresa Clay of Fort Worth Texas and sister-in-law, Arlene Clay of Milton. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rufus and Ruby Ashworth Clay of Milton, brother Rufus and wife Janice Clay of Louisiana and Ralph Clay of Milton, nieces and nephews and cousins. He was born on January 4,1933 in Huntington, West Virginia. He was raised in Milton during the era of the Great Depression, which taught him the values of work, service, sharing and frugality. He remained true to these principles through his work, his services and his relationships. He served his country in the Air Force during the Korean conflict, as his three brothers had done ten years earlier in the South Pacific. Following his discharge from the Air Force, he began his 34-year career as Director of Purchasing at Cabell Huntington Hospital, three months after its opening. After his retirement from here, he began a second career at the Red Cross in Huntington where he developed his second family. He reluctantly retired from there only three years after 24 years of dedicated service due to health reasons. He was married nearly 60 years to his wife who was the undying object of his attention and love since their meeting prior to his military deployment. As their years together passed, their mutual affections and their faith in God only deepened as they grew together and then aged together. His children remain in awe of his commitment to his family and strive each day to live and parent with such love, clarity, and generosity. His four grandchildren now have appreciation of how to love unconditionally and to care for others because he was briefly in their lives and now forever in their hearts. His extended family includes his loyal friends, Bob Steele, a dedicated and thoughtful family friend, Ann, Frank, Betty and Clayton Smith, faithful and loving friends and neighbors He also had numerous friends at his church Lewis Memorial Church and at the Red Cross including Chuck Whisman and Caroline Beckleheimer. He loved gardening, old television shows, sacred music and arguing with umpires and referees. He never missed a ball game, an assembly, a graduation or a chance to vote. He was unassuming, humorous, and modest. While we miss his smiles, his laughter, and the fact that he always made the other person the center of attention, we have committed ourselves to living our lives with his spirit ever-present. We are the luckiest family on earth because God lent him to us for just enough time to make us all have a truly wonderful life. He was anxiously waiting to meet his first great-grandchild, Hunter Emana, who is due in July. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday, Beard Mortuary, Huntington with Dr. David Lemming officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Huntington. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary. Memorial donations may be made to Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House, the American Red Cross, or his favorite charity, Smile Train, which provides free cleft surgery to children in developing countries.