Bess Freeman Clay passed away on March 30, 2005. She was born November 10, 1919 to Harriette and Henry Freeman of Foreman, Arkansas. She graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant and began her career in education as a high school history teacher.
In 1942 she married Dr. Richard Allen Clay of Durant, Oklahoma, an Oklahoma City ophthalmologist. Bess and Richard were married for 62 years and have three children: daughter Harriette Clay Porter, M.D., Oklahoma City, daughter Marty Conkle, married to Clifford L. Conkle of Sacramento, CA., and a son, Richard Allen Clay, Jr., Oklahoma City, married to Marylin Mertz. They have four grandchildren: Christy Turnbull, Ryan Conkle, D.D.S., Austin Clay, and Lindsay Conkle. Mrs. Clay's sister, Mrs. Martha Holman, Broken Bow, OK, also survives.
For 34 years the Clays lived in the historic John A. Brown home in Nichols Hills. With all the beauty and charm of a true southern belle, Bess Clay embraced Oklahoma City and its civic and cultural opportunities. Noted for her skills as a hostess, she graciously entertained at benefits for charitable organizations. Serving on the inaugural "Swing for Sight" golf committee, she hosted its first celebration dinner benefiting the Oklahoma Society to Prevent Blindness.
Because her husband obtained the original charter for the Oklahoma Eye Foundation which built the Dean A. McGee Eye Institute, Bess hosted many dinners for the Institute and for residents in training there. Mrs. Clay, an avid reader, belonged to Reviewer's Clique book club, was president of La Junta book club and a charter member of the Oklahoma City University Library Society. Her interest in history led her to membership in the Oklahoma Heritage Association and charter membership in the Chafing Dish Society which benefited restoration of the historic Overholser Mansion in Heritage Hills.
Art was a major interest, and she served as president of the Oklahoma Art League, also holding memberships in the Oklahoma Museum of Art at Buttram Mansion, Oklahoma Art Center Association as a life member, Friends of the Oklahoma Museum of Art as a charter member, and Allied Arts.Her generous hospitality also benefited many community organizations. Her magnificent Nichols Hills home was the setting for events sponsoring the Salvation Army, the Federal Aviation Administration, Allied Arts, Lyric Theater Guild, Women's Committee of the Oklahoma City Symphony Orchestra, English Speaking Union, United Appeal, Redbud Women's Club, Kirkpatrick Planetarium, and the Oklahoma Zoological Society. She chaired the third annual Heart Ball of the American Heart Association, and was president of the Chi Omega Mothers Club at OU for two years.
In 1976 Bess was honored at the Oklahoma Hospitality Club's "Ladies in the News luncheon. As former president of the Women's Auxiliaries to the Oklahoma County and Oklahoma State Medical Associations, she focused her attention on work with the State Auxiliary's Nurses Loan Fund and Children and Youth Committee. She was also appointed by Gov. Dewey Bartlett to his Committee on Children and Youth.
A member of Oklahoma City's First Baptist Church for many years, she served as a superintendent in the Sunday School teen program. For the past seven years the Clays have been members of Westminster Presbyterian Church.
A celebration of her life is planned at 10am on Saturday, April 2 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4400 N. Shartel Ave, Oklahoma City. Memorials may be made to the Dean A. McGee Eye Institute Foundation, 608 Stanton L. Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, or Frontier Hospice 3908 N. Peniel, Oklahoma City. HAHN-COOK STREET & DRAPER N. Grand at Classen
Social Security Death Index: Name: Bess F. Clay
Last Residence: 73118 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Ok
Born: 10 Nov 1919
Died: 30 Mar 2005
State (Year) SSN issued: Arkansas (Before 1951)
In 1942 she married Dr. Richard Allen Clay of Durant, Oklahoma, an Oklahoma City ophthalmologist. Bess and Richard were married for 62 years and have three children: daughter Harriette Clay Porter, M.D., Oklahoma City, daughter Marty Conkle, married to Clifford L. Conkle of Sacramento, CA., and a son, Richard Allen Clay, Jr., Oklahoma City, married to Marylin Mertz. They have four grandchildren: Christy Turnbull, Ryan Conkle, D.D.S., Austin Clay, and Lindsay Conkle. Mrs. Clay's sister, Mrs. Martha Holman, Broken Bow, OK, also survives.
For 34 years the Clays lived in the historic John A. Brown home in Nichols Hills. With all the beauty and charm of a true southern belle, Bess Clay embraced Oklahoma City and its civic and cultural opportunities. Noted for her skills as a hostess, she graciously entertained at benefits for charitable organizations. Serving on the inaugural "Swing for Sight" golf committee, she hosted its first celebration dinner benefiting the Oklahoma Society to Prevent Blindness.
Because her husband obtained the original charter for the Oklahoma Eye Foundation which built the Dean A. McGee Eye Institute, Bess hosted many dinners for the Institute and for residents in training there. Mrs. Clay, an avid reader, belonged to Reviewer's Clique book club, was president of La Junta book club and a charter member of the Oklahoma City University Library Society. Her interest in history led her to membership in the Oklahoma Heritage Association and charter membership in the Chafing Dish Society which benefited restoration of the historic Overholser Mansion in Heritage Hills.
Art was a major interest, and she served as president of the Oklahoma Art League, also holding memberships in the Oklahoma Museum of Art at Buttram Mansion, Oklahoma Art Center Association as a life member, Friends of the Oklahoma Museum of Art as a charter member, and Allied Arts.Her generous hospitality also benefited many community organizations. Her magnificent Nichols Hills home was the setting for events sponsoring the Salvation Army, the Federal Aviation Administration, Allied Arts, Lyric Theater Guild, Women's Committee of the Oklahoma City Symphony Orchestra, English Speaking Union, United Appeal, Redbud Women's Club, Kirkpatrick Planetarium, and the Oklahoma Zoological Society. She chaired the third annual Heart Ball of the American Heart Association, and was president of the Chi Omega Mothers Club at OU for two years.
In 1976 Bess was honored at the Oklahoma Hospitality Club's "Ladies in the News luncheon. As former president of the Women's Auxiliaries to the Oklahoma County and Oklahoma State Medical Associations, she focused her attention on work with the State Auxiliary's Nurses Loan Fund and Children and Youth Committee. She was also appointed by Gov. Dewey Bartlett to his Committee on Children and Youth.
A member of Oklahoma City's First Baptist Church for many years, she served as a superintendent in the Sunday School teen program. For the past seven years the Clays have been members of Westminster Presbyterian Church.
A celebration of her life is planned at 10am on Saturday, April 2 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4400 N. Shartel Ave, Oklahoma City. Memorials may be made to the Dean A. McGee Eye Institute Foundation, 608 Stanton L. Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, or Frontier Hospice 3908 N. Peniel, Oklahoma City. HAHN-COOK STREET & DRAPER N. Grand at Classen
Social Security Death Index: Name: Bess F. Clay
Last Residence: 73118 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Ok
Born: 10 Nov 1919
Died: 30 Mar 2005
State (Year) SSN issued: Arkansas (Before 1951)
Bess Freeman Clay passed away on March 30, 2005. She was born November 10, 1919 to Harriette and Henry Freeman of Foreman, Arkansas. She graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant and began her career in education as a high school history teacher.
In 1942 she married Dr. Richard Allen Clay of Durant, Oklahoma, an Oklahoma City ophthalmologist. Bess and Richard were married for 62 years and have three children: daughter Harriette Clay Porter, M.D., Oklahoma City, daughter Marty Conkle, married to Clifford L. Conkle of Sacramento, CA., and a son, Richard Allen Clay, Jr., Oklahoma City, married to Marylin Mertz. They have four grandchildren: Christy Turnbull, Ryan Conkle, D.D.S., Austin Clay, and Lindsay Conkle. Mrs. Clay's sister, Mrs. Martha Holman, Broken Bow, OK, also survives.
For 34 years the Clays lived in the historic John A. Brown home in Nichols Hills. With all the beauty and charm of a true southern belle, Bess Clay embraced Oklahoma City and its civic and cultural opportunities. Noted for her skills as a hostess, she graciously entertained at benefits for charitable organizations. Serving on the inaugural "Swing for Sight" golf committee, she hosted its first celebration dinner benefiting the Oklahoma Society to Prevent Blindness.
Because her husband obtained the original charter for the Oklahoma Eye Foundation which built the Dean A. McGee Eye Institute, Bess hosted many dinners for the Institute and for residents in training there. Mrs. Clay, an avid reader, belonged to Reviewer's Clique book club, was president of La Junta book club and a charter member of the Oklahoma City University Library Society. Her interest in history led her to membership in the Oklahoma Heritage Association and charter membership in the Chafing Dish Society which benefited restoration of the historic Overholser Mansion in Heritage Hills.
Art was a major interest, and she served as president of the Oklahoma Art League, also holding memberships in the Oklahoma Museum of Art at Buttram Mansion, Oklahoma Art Center Association as a life member, Friends of the Oklahoma Museum of Art as a charter member, and Allied Arts.Her generous hospitality also benefited many community organizations. Her magnificent Nichols Hills home was the setting for events sponsoring the Salvation Army, the Federal Aviation Administration, Allied Arts, Lyric Theater Guild, Women's Committee of the Oklahoma City Symphony Orchestra, English Speaking Union, United Appeal, Redbud Women's Club, Kirkpatrick Planetarium, and the Oklahoma Zoological Society. She chaired the third annual Heart Ball of the American Heart Association, and was president of the Chi Omega Mothers Club at OU for two years.
In 1976 Bess was honored at the Oklahoma Hospitality Club's "Ladies in the News luncheon. As former president of the Women's Auxiliaries to the Oklahoma County and Oklahoma State Medical Associations, she focused her attention on work with the State Auxiliary's Nurses Loan Fund and Children and Youth Committee. She was also appointed by Gov. Dewey Bartlett to his Committee on Children and Youth.
A member of Oklahoma City's First Baptist Church for many years, she served as a superintendent in the Sunday School teen program. For the past seven years the Clays have been members of Westminster Presbyterian Church.
A celebration of her life is planned at 10am on Saturday, April 2 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4400 N. Shartel Ave, Oklahoma City. Memorials may be made to the Dean A. McGee Eye Institute Foundation, 608 Stanton L. Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, or Frontier Hospice 3908 N. Peniel, Oklahoma City. HAHN-COOK STREET & DRAPER N. Grand at Classen
Social Security Death Index: Name: Bess F. Clay
Last Residence: 73118 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Ok
Born: 10 Nov 1919
Died: 30 Mar 2005
State (Year) SSN issued: Arkansas (Before 1951)
In 1942 she married Dr. Richard Allen Clay of Durant, Oklahoma, an Oklahoma City ophthalmologist. Bess and Richard were married for 62 years and have three children: daughter Harriette Clay Porter, M.D., Oklahoma City, daughter Marty Conkle, married to Clifford L. Conkle of Sacramento, CA., and a son, Richard Allen Clay, Jr., Oklahoma City, married to Marylin Mertz. They have four grandchildren: Christy Turnbull, Ryan Conkle, D.D.S., Austin Clay, and Lindsay Conkle. Mrs. Clay's sister, Mrs. Martha Holman, Broken Bow, OK, also survives.
For 34 years the Clays lived in the historic John A. Brown home in Nichols Hills. With all the beauty and charm of a true southern belle, Bess Clay embraced Oklahoma City and its civic and cultural opportunities. Noted for her skills as a hostess, she graciously entertained at benefits for charitable organizations. Serving on the inaugural "Swing for Sight" golf committee, she hosted its first celebration dinner benefiting the Oklahoma Society to Prevent Blindness.
Because her husband obtained the original charter for the Oklahoma Eye Foundation which built the Dean A. McGee Eye Institute, Bess hosted many dinners for the Institute and for residents in training there. Mrs. Clay, an avid reader, belonged to Reviewer's Clique book club, was president of La Junta book club and a charter member of the Oklahoma City University Library Society. Her interest in history led her to membership in the Oklahoma Heritage Association and charter membership in the Chafing Dish Society which benefited restoration of the historic Overholser Mansion in Heritage Hills.
Art was a major interest, and she served as president of the Oklahoma Art League, also holding memberships in the Oklahoma Museum of Art at Buttram Mansion, Oklahoma Art Center Association as a life member, Friends of the Oklahoma Museum of Art as a charter member, and Allied Arts.Her generous hospitality also benefited many community organizations. Her magnificent Nichols Hills home was the setting for events sponsoring the Salvation Army, the Federal Aviation Administration, Allied Arts, Lyric Theater Guild, Women's Committee of the Oklahoma City Symphony Orchestra, English Speaking Union, United Appeal, Redbud Women's Club, Kirkpatrick Planetarium, and the Oklahoma Zoological Society. She chaired the third annual Heart Ball of the American Heart Association, and was president of the Chi Omega Mothers Club at OU for two years.
In 1976 Bess was honored at the Oklahoma Hospitality Club's "Ladies in the News luncheon. As former president of the Women's Auxiliaries to the Oklahoma County and Oklahoma State Medical Associations, she focused her attention on work with the State Auxiliary's Nurses Loan Fund and Children and Youth Committee. She was also appointed by Gov. Dewey Bartlett to his Committee on Children and Youth.
A member of Oklahoma City's First Baptist Church for many years, she served as a superintendent in the Sunday School teen program. For the past seven years the Clays have been members of Westminster Presbyterian Church.
A celebration of her life is planned at 10am on Saturday, April 2 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4400 N. Shartel Ave, Oklahoma City. Memorials may be made to the Dean A. McGee Eye Institute Foundation, 608 Stanton L. Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, or Frontier Hospice 3908 N. Peniel, Oklahoma City. HAHN-COOK STREET & DRAPER N. Grand at Classen
Social Security Death Index: Name: Bess F. Clay
Last Residence: 73118 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Ok
Born: 10 Nov 1919
Died: 30 Mar 2005
State (Year) SSN issued: Arkansas (Before 1951)
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