Berta B. Lay  (1895-1981)

Lawrence Lay was the fifth of the eight children of Dr. Shelby Lay and Margaret Younger Lay. He received his license to teach school at 18 and from that time on he was teacher, student, lecturer and preacher. He received his BA from the University of Oklahoma in 1918 and a Master of Theology degree from Phillips University (Enid, OK) in 1923. At 21 Lawrence married Malissa Sasser; they divorced in 1918. Then he married Berta Bailey. They had 5 children.  

Berta Bailey Lay was the seventh of nine children born to Rufus and Elizabeth McKeage (buried in lot 44). She also had a teaching certificate and met Lawrence while working on her bachelor's degree. She was a teacher until the death of Lawrence then worked for a state agency until she retired to the farm (on which Olive Hill Cemetery was located) in 1949. She worked the farm alone, delighting in her self-sufficiency until her declining health forced her move to the city. Berta is the granddaughter of Olive Hand Bailey for which the cemetery is named. Two of her brothers (James Bailey and William Bailey) and two of her sisters (Sylvia Bailey and Sarah Sitlington) are also buried at Olive Hill.

Their Son Robert Miner Lay (1922-2008) will be memorialized at Olive Hill Cemetery on 26 May 2008.

OBITUARY: 09/18/1943

Lawrence Lay Rites Pending
Lawrence Lay, 63, a veteran Oklahoma school teacher, died unexpectedly Friday afternoon of a heart at-tack, while en route from his home in Britton to an Oklahoma City hospital.
Lay, a native of Arkansas, moved to Oklahoma in 1902 and had lived in Britton 14 years. A veteran of 35 years as an instructor, he had taught in many different sections of the state, and had been employed this year as grad principal in Blanchard. He was a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and for a number of years had been interested in progressive religious work.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Berta B. Lay, of the home address; one son, S/Sgt. Bob M., who is in the army overseas; and four daughters, Mrs. Margaret Young, 1738 NE 19; Miss Ruth Lay, St. Louis, Mo., and Misses Kathryn and Frances Lay, both of the home address.
He is also survived by a sister, Mrs. Maud Elton, Atlanta, Ga.; and three brothers, Floyd, McAlester; Eldred, Harrison, Ark., and William, Yelleville, Ark.
Services will be announced by the Britton Funeral Home.

OBITUARY: 04/06/1981

LAY Berta, age 86, died April 3. She was a retired school teacher, member of Britton United Methodist Church, SpringCreek Home Demonstration Club. Services will be Monday, 11 a.m., Sherman Desmuth Memorial Chapel. She is survived by sons Bob of Choctaw, 3 daughters, Frances Morris of OKC, Ruth Stabler of Florida & Kathryn Hollingsworth of Dallas, 15 grandchildren & 23 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her daughter Margaret Young of OKC. Donations may be made to Neighbor For Neighbor Assoc.

Genealogy last updated: Saturday, April 26, 2008