CLARICE MCKAY

LAMAR- Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Daniel Funeral Home for Clarice D. McKay, 85, Lamar, who died Friday, March 10, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin. Burial will be in Lake Cemetery.

Visitation will be held prior to the service, beginning at 1 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Barton County Senior Citizens Center or charity of donor's choice, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.danielfuneralhome.net.

Survivors include a son Tom McKay and wife Brenda, Jasper; two daughters, Marilyn McKay and Jane Ann McKay, both of Joplin; a grandson, Josh McKay and wife Sarah Jo, Fort Scott, Kan.; two great-grandchildren, Joe and JoDee; three nieces, Pat Ingram and husband Loren, Baldwin City, Kan., Sylvia Sales and husband Bill, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii and Marilyn Galliher and husband Sonny, California, Mo., and many great and great-great nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, William, Norman and George Podschun and a sister, Louise Harmon.

Mrs. McKay was born Aug. 4, 1931, in Anthony, Kan., to Henry and Clara (Fitz) Podshun. She attended Anthony schools, graduating in 1949. She married John Gilbert Jr. on June 16, 1953, in Pittsburg, Kan. and they made their home in Lamar. She worked in the Barton County Recorder's office before beginning an enjoyable 18-year career at Lamar Bank & Trust. She and her husband had been married nearly 20 years when he unexpectedly died on Jan. 9, 1973. She married Bill McKay on June 4, 1977 and retired from LBT to keep the books for McKay's IGA. She felt incredibly blessed by the love of his three children, Tom, Marilyn and Jane Ann. He died June 28, 2007.

A natural caregiver, she was always ready to help wherever there was a need. She invested time in remembering others with cards and calls and found joy in sharing her knitting, ceramics and craft projects with family and friends. Her green thumb was apparent by the beautiful plants and flowers she grew and she looked forward to the fellowship of close friends in her weekly Canasta Club at the senior center. She was a former member of Grace Lutheran Church in Lamar and a current member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lockwood.