Carrell "Bill" Lay, Jr.

Bill passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 11, 2014 in Groves, Texas. He was born March 1, 1932, in Port Arthur, Texas, to Carrell William Lay Sr. and Bertha Irene Bovee Lay and had one sister, Mary Lay Ponder, whom all preceded him in death. Bill graduated from Port Neches High School in 1950 where he played football for the Port Neches Indians. Prior to graduation he earned his Eagle Scout rank with Troop 76, sponsored by First United Methodist Church of Groves, and later served as Asst. Scoutmaster for the troop. He spent many years at the Lay camp on Cow Creek with fond memories made there with his mother, father, sister, children, other family members, and friends. Bill was an expert cabinet maker and woodworker with one of his fondest accomplishments having built part of the alter for First United Methodist Church of Groves where he was a member. He worked at The Texas Company, Firestone, BF Goodrich, and later transferred to Occidental Chemical Company in Louisiana. Upon retirement, Bill and Rosie moved to Toledo Bend Lake, near Hemphill, where he enjoyed making many new friends, woodworking, and fishing the favorite crappie hole with children and grandchildren. Health issues required a move back to Groves where Bill's final years were lived out with family, friends, and loving wife and caregiver, Rosie. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches with Reverend Sherry Crenshaw officiating. A visitation for family and friends will be Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves. He is survived by his wife, Roscille (Rosie) Goolsbee Lay, son, Robert Lay and wife, LuAnn, and daughter, Nancy and husband, Doug Bledsoe Jr., five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Grandchildren are James Robert Lay and wife, Delena, Jonathan Lay and wife, Sarah, Doug Bledsoe III and wife, Brandy, Madeline Bledsoe Foster and husband, Justin, and David Bledsoe and wife, Shea, and three nieces. Great grandchildren are Wilkerson (Will) Bledsoe, Evan Foster, Ludvic Lay, Luccia Lay, and great grandchild Lay expected in August. In lieu of flowers, donations are asked to be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center.