H. Clay Pauley
May 9, 1925 — March 7, 2007
Harold Clay Pauley, the son of Harold C. And Lucile A. (DeOgny) Pauley was born May 9, 1925, in Milford, Nebraska. The attending physician at the time of his birth was his grandfather, Dr. Paul A. DeOgny. The first five years of his life he lived with his family in Beatrice, Nebraska. In 1930, they moved to Harlan, Iowa, and this was his home the rest of his life. He attended Harlan High School where he was selected first team all-state 1942 as a center. He graduated in 1943 and two days after his graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served during World War II.
He was united in marriage to Margaret Louree Nelson on October 29, 1945, at Bethel Baptist Church in Harlan and shared fifty-seven years of marriage together. She preceded him in death on September 17, 2002. The first few months of marriage had been in San Diego, California, while Clay was still in the Navy. After his discharge, Margaret and Clay returned to Iowa and made their home in Harlan. One daughter, Lucinda Jo, affectionately known as �Cindy�, was born to this union.
Clay had helped his parents in the funeral home while he was in high school and this became his vocation of choice. After a year of apprenticeship in Harlan, he attended mortuary school in Kansas City, Kansas, graduating in 1948 and returning to Harlan to work for his parents. Margaret and Clay later purchased the funeral home and continued with this endeavor until 1975. He then worked for the Shelby County Abstract Company until he was elected as Shelby County Auditor and served in that position for eight years. He then worked at Home Federal Savings and Loan until his retirement in 1990. Later he worked for Sorensen�s Heartland Computers.
Clay was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Harlan and at one time was their financial officer. He is a member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association and served as their president in 1958. He has been a member of Parian Lodge No. 321 AF & AM, VFW Post No. 941, and Helmer Reyelt American Legion Post No. 150 for over fifty years. Clay always loved sports and for many years he helped with football games, at track meets, and other school activities. He was honored as the last King of the Mardi Gras by St. Michael�s Parish in 1972. He had been a member of the Harlan Fire Department, serving as secretary, a member of Veterans Memorial Commission at the time of construction of the Vets Building, Myrtue Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees at the time the new doctors clinic was built, and the Shelby County Health Foundation. He has also served on the Farmers Mutual Telephone Board when they sold their Harlan lines to the Iowa State Telephone Company, the Harlan Golf and Country Club Board, Harlan Library Board, and Foundation Harlan Chamber of Commerce, and many other civic groups.
Clay Pauley died on Wednesday, March 7, 2007, at his home in Harlan, having attained the age of eighty-one years, nine months, and twenty-six days. Preceding him in death were his wife, Margaret, and his parents.
He is survived by his daughter Cindy and her husband Rick Burchett of Harlan; his grandchildren: Sara (Tom) Wilson of Lakeville, MN, Ryan (Monica) Burchett of Lafayette, LA, and Garrett Burchett (Erin Byrne) of Dallas, TX; great-grandchildren: Zachary and Josie Wilson and Maggie Burchett; brothers: Richard (Marianne) Pauley of Lincoln, NE, Paul (Patricia) Pauley of Santa Lena, TX, and Bruce Pauley of Dallas, TX; his favorite sister Beverly Ann (Ron) Jensen of Harlan, two sisters-in-law: Edna Mae Petersen of Topeka, KS and Lois Lindbloom of Grand Forks, ND, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 10, 2007, at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa. Pastor Dave Swinton officiated the 10:00 AM service. Serving as casket bearers were Ryan Burchett, Garrett Burchett, Tom Wilson, Wade Jensen, David Pauley, Jim Petersen, Mark Hall, and Josh Hansen. Military Rites were performed by the Harlan American Legion Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150 and the Shelby County VFW Post No. 941 in the Harlan Cemetery.
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He was united in marriage to Margaret Louree Nelson on October 29, 1945, at Bethel Baptist Church in Harlan and shared fifty-seven years of marriage together. She preceded him in death on September 17, 2002. The first few months of marriage had been in San Diego, California, while Clay was still in the Navy. After his discharge, Margaret and Clay returned to Iowa and made their home in Harlan. One daughter, Lucinda Jo, affectionately known as �Cindy�, was born to this union.
Clay had helped his parents in the funeral home while he was in high school and this became his vocation of choice. After a year of apprenticeship in Harlan, he attended mortuary school in Kansas City, Kansas, graduating in 1948 and returning to Harlan to work for his parents. Margaret and Clay later purchased the funeral home and continued with this endeavor until 1975. He then worked for the Shelby County Abstract Company until he was elected as Shelby County Auditor and served in that position for eight years. He then worked at Home Federal Savings and Loan until his retirement in 1990. Later he worked for Sorensen�s Heartland Computers.
Clay was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Harlan and at one time was their financial officer. He is a member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association and served as their president in 1958. He has been a member of Parian Lodge No. 321 AF & AM, VFW Post No. 941, and Helmer Reyelt American Legion Post No. 150 for over fifty years. Clay always loved sports and for many years he helped with football games, at track meets, and other school activities. He was honored as the last King of the Mardi Gras by St. Michael�s Parish in 1972. He had been a member of the Harlan Fire Department, serving as secretary, a member of Veterans Memorial Commission at the time of construction of the Vets Building, Myrtue Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees at the time the new doctors clinic was built, and the Shelby County Health Foundation. He has also served on the Farmers Mutual Telephone Board when they sold their Harlan lines to the Iowa State Telephone Company, the Harlan Golf and Country Club Board, Harlan Library Board, and Foundation Harlan Chamber of Commerce, and many other civic groups.
Clay Pauley died on Wednesday, March 7, 2007, at his home in Harlan, having attained the age of eighty-one years, nine months, and twenty-six days. Preceding him in death were his wife, Margaret, and his parents.
He is survived by his daughter Cindy and her husband Rick Burchett of Harlan; his grandchildren: Sara (Tom) Wilson of Lakeville, MN, Ryan (Monica) Burchett of Lafayette, LA, and Garrett Burchett (Erin Byrne) of Dallas, TX; great-grandchildren: Zachary and Josie Wilson and Maggie Burchett; brothers: Richard (Marianne) Pauley of Lincoln, NE, Paul (Patricia) Pauley of Santa Lena, TX, and Bruce Pauley of Dallas, TX; his favorite sister Beverly Ann (Ron) Jensen of Harlan, two sisters-in-law: Edna Mae Petersen of Topeka, KS and Lois Lindbloom of Grand Forks, ND, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 10, 2007, at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa. Pastor Dave Swinton officiated the 10:00 AM service. Serving as casket bearers were Ryan Burchett, Garrett Burchett, Tom Wilson, Wade Jensen, David Pauley, Jim Petersen, Mark Hall, and Josh Hansen. Military Rites were performed by the Harlan American Legion Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150 and the Shelby County VFW Post No. 941 in the Harlan Cemetery.
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