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Cecil J. Clay
May 8, 1944 — March 25, 2026
Warren
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Cecil Jackson Clay, 81, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at 6:37 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at St. Joseph Hospital in Warren, Ohio. Cecil was born May 8, 1944, in Soldier, Kentucky, the son of William and Stella (Loomis) Clay.
Cecil was a 1963 graduate of Niles McKinley High School and immediately entered the Unites States Marine Corp where he achieved the rank of Sergeant while honorably serving our country in the Vietnam War from 1963 to 1967; earning the Vietnam Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, & Good Conduct Medal. Cecil worked as a Boilermaker for U.S. Steel Ohio Works in Youngstown, Ohio, before retiring in 2006 as a Millwright at the General Motors Fabrication Plant in Lordstown, Ohio.
Cecil was a man of strong Christian faith, selflessly working his lifetime to be the difference for anyone in need of help, guidance, or a laugh. He actively volunteered in a leadership role for YMCA Indian Guides, Cub Scouts Troop 135, Boy Scouts Troop 35, youth sports; and enjoyed the outdoors, animals, reading, music, fishing, and proving there was nothing considered broken that he could not fix. A man of incredible intellect who preferred few words to allow his actions to speak his wisdom and testimony. Cecil’s greatest passion was mentoring, loving, and spending time with his sons, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, friends and family.
Cecil is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lois Ann (Powell) Clay, whom he married on March 9, 1968; sons Allan D. (Laura) Clay and Lawrence “Larry” W. (Janie) Clay; loved like sons Michael C. (Shelly) Powell and Tom Wayne Tomlin, who treated Cecil like a Father; grandchildren Trent (Lia) and Kylie (Evan) Lumbert; great-grandchildren Caydence, Ethan, and Genevieve; sisters Lula (Luke) Foster and Liza Jane Clay; and many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends who will all miss him dearly.
In addition to his parents, Cecil was preceded in death by five brothers Eugene Leedy, Harold Clay, James Clay, Millard Clay, Joseph Clay and sisters Gladys Marie (Clay) Ramunno and Mary (Clay) Jackson.
Calling hours for family and friends will be held from 10:00 to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday April 4, 2026, at Holeton-Yuhasz Funeral Home, 126 W. Park Ave, Niles, Ohio 44446. Funeral Service will begin at 12:00 p.m. Followed by a brief Chapel Service at Pineview Cemetery, 4049 Youngstown Rd SE, Warren, Ohio 44484.
Cecil, a Vietnam Veteran and dedicated leader, strongly advocated providing support to our soldiers and their families, with a commitment that no one fights alone. The Clay family requests that all material contributions be made in Cecil’s name, to Semper Fi & America's Fund, https://thefund.org/donate/, to assist our veterans.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Cecil J. Clay, please visit our flower store.
Cecil was a 1963 graduate of Niles McKinley High School and immediately entered the Unites States Marine Corp where he achieved the rank of Sergeant while honorably serving our country in the Vietnam War from 1963 to 1967; earning the Vietnam Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, & Good Conduct Medal. Cecil worked as a Boilermaker for U.S. Steel Ohio Works in Youngstown, Ohio, before retiring in 2006 as a Millwright at the General Motors Fabrication Plant in Lordstown, Ohio.
Cecil was a man of strong Christian faith, selflessly working his lifetime to be the difference for anyone in need of help, guidance, or a laugh. He actively volunteered in a leadership role for YMCA Indian Guides, Cub Scouts Troop 135, Boy Scouts Troop 35, youth sports; and enjoyed the outdoors, animals, reading, music, fishing, and proving there was nothing considered broken that he could not fix. A man of incredible intellect who preferred few words to allow his actions to speak his wisdom and testimony. Cecil’s greatest passion was mentoring, loving, and spending time with his sons, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, friends and family.
Cecil is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lois Ann (Powell) Clay, whom he married on March 9, 1968; sons Allan D. (Laura) Clay and Lawrence “Larry” W. (Janie) Clay; loved like sons Michael C. (Shelly) Powell and Tom Wayne Tomlin, who treated Cecil like a Father; grandchildren Trent (Lia) and Kylie (Evan) Lumbert; great-grandchildren Caydence, Ethan, and Genevieve; sisters Lula (Luke) Foster and Liza Jane Clay; and many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends who will all miss him dearly.
In addition to his parents, Cecil was preceded in death by five brothers Eugene Leedy, Harold Clay, James Clay, Millard Clay, Joseph Clay and sisters Gladys Marie (Clay) Ramunno and Mary (Clay) Jackson.
Calling hours for family and friends will be held from 10:00 to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday April 4, 2026, at Holeton-Yuhasz Funeral Home, 126 W. Park Ave, Niles, Ohio 44446. Funeral Service will begin at 12:00 p.m. Followed by a brief Chapel Service at Pineview Cemetery, 4049 Youngstown Rd SE, Warren, Ohio 44484.
Cecil, a Vietnam Veteran and dedicated leader, strongly advocated providing support to our soldiers and their families, with a commitment that no one fights alone. The Clay family requests that all material contributions be made in Cecil’s name, to Semper Fi & America's Fund, https://thefund.org/donate/, to assist our veterans.
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