Alice Clay

Alice Clay

Grand Coteau- Funeral services for Miss Alice Clay will be held on Friday, September 1, 2006, at 2:30 p.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial in the Sibille Funeral Home of Grand Coteau. Burial will follow in the Bellevue Memorial Park of Opelousas.

Msgr. Louis Melancon will conduct the Mass. Music will be provided by Valerie Andrus.

On August 26, 2006, Mary Alice Clay died at the age of 95 in Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette following a brief illness. Born in 1911, Miss Clay was raised in Sunset and graduated from Sunset High School at the age of 16. She received a loan from the Bank of Sunset to attend SLI and graduated with a degree in elementary education at the age of 18. Her first teaching job was in Cankton, where she lived in the Teacher age, returning to Sunset on weekends. A few years later she began teaching at Sunset Elementary School. Her love of learning and her devotion to books would mark her career and her life. Using sweet potato crates and her own books, supplemented by books gathered from friends, she set up her first library in the cloak room of her third grade class. When her principal, Mr. Babin, promised to build a school library if she would obtain a degree in Library Science, she began taking courses toward that end.

After attending Summer Schools at LSU, she received a Masters Degree in Library Science and the Library at Sunset High School became a reality. The programs she developed for elementary and high school students continued to spread her love of books and reading throughout the Parish. She obtained permission to open the Library two days a week during the summer so her beloved students would have lots to read. She kept a basket of donated magazines by the door of the library and encouraged students to take them home to their parents. She encouraged parents to take out books too and seemed to remember what everyone liked to read so she could make sure their favorite material was always available.

Upon her retirement she moved to Lafayette where she volunteered with the Symphony and enjoyed a rich social life with friends and family. Her bridge playing prowess was well known and she never said no to a good game.

Alice Clay is remembered as a loving Aunt, dear cousin, a devoted friend and a remarkable teacher who blessed every life she touched. In 2001, she was named First Librarian of St. Landry Parish and a room in the Library was dedicated to her. It was one of the proudest days of her life.

Survivors include a host of nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.

Miss Alice was preceded in death by her parents, Frank Clay, Sr. and Constance Guilbeau Clay.

Visitation will held on Friday, Sept.1, 2006 from 10 am until 2:30 p.m. at the Sibille Funeral Home in Grand Coteau.
PIn lieu of flowers the family asks that tax deductible donations be sent to The Alice Clay Memorial Fund at the South St. Landry Community Library, st1:Str

Visitation

Sibille Funeral Home
1473 I-49 North Service Road
Grand Coteau, LA  70541
Friday, September 1, 2006
10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Service

Mass of Christian Burial

Sibille Funeral Home Chapel
1473 I-49 North Service Road
Grand Coteau, LA  70541
Friday, September 1, 2006
2:30 p.m.

Cemetery

Bellevue Memorial ParkH
4833 Highway 182
Opelousas, LA  70570

Memorial Contributions

Alice Clay Memorial FundSouth St. Landry Community Library
235 Marie Street
Sunset, LA  70584