Carl Edward Lay Sr., 88, formerly of Vandalia passed away at 6:11am, Friday, December 11, 2015 at Memorial Medical Center, Springfield, IL.
Services for Mr. Lay will be held at 3:00pm, Sunday, December 20, 2015 at Unity Baptist Church Hwy 185 location (Corner of Hwy 185 an Airport Rd, Vandalia, IL 62471; former Temple Baptist Church) with Rev. Robert Weaver officiating. Visitation will be held from 1:00-3:00pm prior to services at the church. Burial will follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, rural Ramsey with military rites accorded by Crawford-Hale American Legion Post # 95, Vandalia and Brownstown VFW Post #9770.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children or to Unity Baptist Church of Vandalia.
Arrangements by Hohlt & File Funeral Home, Vandalia; online condolences available at
Carl was born May 16, 1927 in Knoxville, TN, the son of Frank and Minnie (Davis) Lay. His family moved to Ramsey, IL in 1945. He worked construction and as a heavy equipment operator for Local 520 out of Granite City and was a member of Temple Baptist Church, Mason’s Temperance Lodge #16, AINAD Shriners, Vandalia American Legion Post #95, AMVETS, DAV Disabled American Veterans, and Vandalia Moose Lodge #1447. Carl served in the US Army as a paratrooper during WWII. He married Margaret Mabel Davidson on May 10, 1944; they were married for 71 wonderful years. Mabel resides in Springfield, IL. Together Carl and Mabel had seven children, Carl Edward Lay Jr. who preceded in death, Mark Gregory Lay and wife Pat of Vandalia, Teresa Kay and husband Mike Phelps of Shelbyville, Franklin Winslow Lay of Pana, Janet Marie and husband David Galimba of California, Donna Savilla and husband Mike Collins of Tarpon Springs, FL, and Elvin Tyler Lay and wife Shannon of Chatham; several grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, five siblings, son Eddie, and one grandchild.