Mary Marie Ross Claye, 94, of Horn Lake, MS, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, at Landmark of DeSoto in Horn Lake.
Marie was born on Jan. 6, 1928, in Cape Girardeau to Thomas Ross and Mary Dora Sample Ross.
She graduated from Jackson High School in 1945 and was a faithful member attending multiple class reunions in recent years.
Marie met Arvel James Claye (Malvern, AR) in 1948, and after a brief courtship of 2 weeks, they married on July 4, 1948. The marriage lasted 57 years until his death in 2005.
Marie worked at various office positions, retiring in 1998. She has lived in approximately 32 locations due to Arvel’s job as a retail store manager in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri. They moved back to Malvern, AR, in 1980, then to her hometown of Jackson in 2002.
Marie moved to Bloomfield Hills, MI, in 2011 to live with son and daughter-in-law, Don and Sharon Claye. In 2017 she moved back to Mississippi into her own apartment close to daughter Linda McGan in Horn Lake. Her most recent residence was Landmark of DeSoto, Horn Lake, MS.
Marie was a past member of Third Baptist Church, Malvern, AR, and current member of First Baptist Church, Southaven, MS. She was also a member of Daughters of American Revolution and Red Hat Ladies Society.
Marie leaves son Donald J. Claye (Sharon Sladewski Claye) Bloomfield Hills, MI; daughter Linda S. Claye McGan, Horn Lake, MS; grandson Ricky A. McGan (Candace Haile McGan), Ward, AR; great-granddaughter Maylee Adison McGan, Ward, AR; and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Ross and Mary Dora Ross; brothers Charles Ross and James Ross; daughters Sherry Lee Claye and Maria Ann Claye; son-in-law Samuel A. McGan IV and grandson Samuel A. “Buck” McGan IV.
Visitation was at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6, with a memorial at 2 p.m. Burial was at Shadowlawn Cemetery, 731 Wilson St., Malvern, following services. Atkinson Funeral Home, 126 E. Second St., Malvern, AR 72104, was in charge.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested that any donations in honor of Mary Marie Claye be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN. Cards may be sent to Linda McGan, P. O. Box 102, Horn Lake, MS 38637.
