Frances Clara McNay

Frances Clara McNay (Clara), 80, of Marietta, Georgia, passed away on January 18, 2013. The Memorial Service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Marietta at 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, January 26th. Rev. Dr. Sam Matthews and Rev. Kenneth Kulp, of Cedartown, will be officiating. Clara McNay was born in Beattyville, Kentucky on February 15, 1932. She graduated from Lee County High School and attended Eastern Kentucky University. Having survived breast cancer in her early years of motherhood with three small children, and living with multiple sclerosis in her later years, Clara radiated a joy for life and a deep sense of grace derived from her constant faith in God. Clara was married for 57 years to Maurice McNay, the love of her life. Through their many life challenges, their love for each other only grew stronger with each passing year. Her life’s work was raising her three children, Gary, Elizabeth, and Curtis, and being passionately involved in the lives of her eight grandchildren. She delighted in welcoming two great-granddaughters into the family this past year. She loved being a mother and grandmother and had an uncanny sense for when she was needed, always there with unconditional love and support. Clara was blessed with many artistic gifts. She was a master seamstress, using her natural talent to make many of the clothes her children wore growing up. She was also an accomplished quilter, hand making beautiful quilts for her home and family. When, because of her MS, her hands no longer allowed her to make those tiny stitches, she began transforming gourds into works of art. She created roughly 150 gourd masterpieces. As her ability to work with her hands diminished further, she delighted in bird watching through the sunroom of their home. Clara loved being part of the Jack Aaron Sunday School class. In recent years she could no longer attend but enjoyed remaining in contact with many class members. She was deeply grateful for the cards, visits and phone calls from her friends and classmates at First United Methodist. The story of Clara McNay is a story of love. Love for God, for her devoted husband and family, for her friends and for life. Clara is survived by her husband, Dr. Maurice C. McNay; children, Gary (Linda) McNay, Elizabeth (Wilson) Hill, and Curtis McNay; grandchildren, Ryan (Nadine) Hill, Daniel (Natalie) Hill, Anna Hill, Robert Hill and fiancée, Apoorva, Ian McNay, Mason McNay, Nathan McNay and Emma McNay; great-granddaughters, Alana Hill and JennaBeth Hill; her brother Curtis (Sue) Davis; and many nieces and nephews. Clara was preceded in death by her parents, Effie and Verner Davis; and her siblings, Eunice Bates, Ola Davis, Winna Jean Pyle, Anna Lee Abner and Naomi Whitaker. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Clara may be made to First United Methodist Church Marietta, 56 Whitlock Ave, S.W., Marietta, GA 30064. The immediate family will receive family and friends from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. in the Parlor of First United Methodist Church, prior to the Memorial Service on Saturday. Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home & Crematory, Marietta. www.mayeswarddobbins.com

Frances Clara McNay

February 15, 1932 - January 18, 2013