Joseph Shelby Lay, Sr

Joseph Shelby Lay, Sr., age 85, a McMinnville, TN resident and Athens, TN native was born August 28, 1934 and passed away October 17, 2019. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps Reserves, a retired accountant with Carrier Corporation, a member of the First United Methodist Church and the son of the late Paul Berry and Allie Ruth Evans Lay. He was married December 19, 1954 to Elizabeth Ann Cate Lay who survives. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons and spouses, Rev. Joseph Shelby Jr. (Laura) Lay of Panama City Beach, FL and Mark Andrew (Jenann) Lay of Cleveland, TN; two daughters and spouse, Robin Elizabeth Lay of Greenville, TN and Sara (Jeff) Lee of McMinnville, TN; grandchildren, Mary Catherine Lay of Pensacola, FL, Elizabeth (Rob) Dunavant of Birmingham, AL, Emily (Tim) Petcu of Nashville, TN, Rev. Andrew Curtis Lay of Athens, TN, David Lee of McMinnville, TN and Jacob Lee of McMinnville, TN; and three great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Roberta and Glen Ramsey of Cleveland, TN, Hugh E. Cate, Jr. and Rickie Of Noblesville, IN, and Susan and Jim Tindal of Cleveland, TN. Many nieces and nephews also survive. A Celebration of Life will be held in the Outreach Building of First United Methodist Church on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until the time of service. A gathering of friends and family will be held in Cleveland, TN at First United Methodist Church on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. to celebrate the life of Joseph S. Lay, Sr. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 200 West Main St., McMinnville, TN 37110. Online condolences may be made at www.highfuneralhome.com High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.