Fifth Generation

133. Merle La Verne CLAY was born on 11 July 1918 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^76,99 He appeared in the census in 1920 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁰ He appeared in the census in 1930 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁶ Merle appeared in the census in 1940 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI. He was a "Hired Hand" in the household of Lawrence Vandervort on "State Highway 12."

. He appeared in the census in 1950 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹²¹ His household was at 408 Kilbourn Avenue and his occupation was "Station Attendant, Gas Station." He died on 9 December 1990 at the age of 72 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹⁹ Merle was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁴⁶ in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Merle La Verne CLAY and Virginia Ann MCGINNIS were married on 6 June 1942 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹⁹ Virginia Ann MCGINNIS, daughter of Harrison MCGINNIS and Matilda E. MILLER, was born on 25 October 1920 in Monroe County, WI.⁷⁶ She appeared in the census in 1930 in Wyeville, Byron Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁶ She graduated in 1939 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. from Tomah High School. Virginia appeared in the census in 1950 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹²¹ Her occupation was "Beautician, Beauty Shop." She died on 27 January 2009 at the age of 88 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹⁹

Obituary Notes: "Virginia Clay, 88, of Tomah, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009, at Sunset Ridge Estates in the Town of Ridgeville. She was born Oct. 26, 1920, to Harrison and Matilda (Miller) McGinnis in Monroe County, WI. She graduated from Tomah High School and practiced cosmetology with Thelma Sjolander and Edna Pelz for many years. She was united in marriage to Merle Clay at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church on June 6, 1942. She was a member of the Mission Circles at St Paul’s and worked with the children’s lunch program at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran School during the years that her grandchildren attended. For many years she faithfully took care of her husband before he preceded her in death on Dec. 9, 1990. Virginia greatly enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She is survived by her daughter, Debra (David) Marx of Tomah; four grandchildren, Andrew (Stephanie Sommerfield) Marx of Tomah, Laura (John) Hutchins of Prairie du Sac, Kathryn (David) Johnson of Tomah and Codell (Amy) Marx of Oconomowoc; five great-grandchildren, Kylie Hutchins, Jaden and Jesse Johnson, Matthew Schultz, and Kennedy Sommerfield; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Merle; two brothers, Eugene and Gordon McGinnis; and a sister, Myrtle Coleman.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Jan. 30, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Matthew Ev. Lutheran Church, Kirby. Pastor Phillip M. Enderle will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tomah.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at St. Matthew Ev. Lutheran Church on Friday from 1 p.m. until the time of the service. Memorials in memory of Virginia may be given to the St. Matthew Ev. Lutheran Church Building Fund. The Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements."

Merle La Verne CLAY and Virginia Ann MCGINNIS had the following children: