Obituary of Thomas Daniel Lay

Thomas Daniel Lay (74), longtime resident of St. Maries, passed away on November 23, 2015. Tom was born on December 23, 1940 to Audy and Edna (Harness) Lay in Pawhuska, OK. Tom's family moved to Oak Glen, CA. where he attended school through first grade. The family then moved to Beaumont, CA, where Tom graduated from high school in 1960. While in school, Tom made 2 life-long friends, Ed Carlson and Lyle Necochea. Following high school Tom went to work for the U.S. Forest Service in May of 1961. He started out digging fire lines. He was drafted into the Army and served in the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1966. Upon his return from Vietnam, Tom went back to work for the U.S. Forest Service where he worked in recreation building trails and fighting fires. Tom retired from the U.S. Forest Service as a Timber Sales Administrator in December of 1995, after a long and rewarding career which he truly loved. Tom enjoyed wood working and was a talented home builder. In his retirement he utilized those skills to build homes for other people. One of his most cherished things was the home he built for he and his family where he lived for 33 years. The home and property were a source of great pride and joy, and he especially loved sharing it with his children and grandchildren. When his grandchildren visited he would teach them to drive and give them tractor rides. He also loved the wildlife around his home, often calling the game animals his "pets". He loved to keep in touch with family and friends and was a “master texter” on an old flip phone. His family and many longtime friends appreciated the fact that keeping in touch with them was a priority in his life. Tom and his wife Candy loved traveling all over to see family and friends. They took a recent trip to Pawhuska, OK where Tom was born. They also visited Fort Sill, where Tom received his military training. Tom is survived by his loving wife of 20 years Candy, daughter Ronda [Keith] Woodcox of Se-attle, WA; daughter Tamil Lay of Washington, UT; son Scott [Lea] Lay of Salcha, AK; and daughter Melissa [Bill] Dudleston of Washington, UT; step-daughters Gina [Jim] Baker of Gold Beach, OR; and Tracy Frazier of Spokane Valley, WA; step-sons Dale [Mandy] Frazier of Post Falls, ID and Slade Frazier of Priest River, ID; and sister Wanda [Brian] Carl of Marietta, GA. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Tom is preceded in death by his parents Audy and Edna Lay; brothers James Lay and Bobby Lay; and sister Betty Cockrum. The family wishes to express their gratitude to all of the staff, the nurses, and doctors at Benew-ah Community Hospital in St. Maries, ID for the loving and compassionate care that they provided for Tom and his family. A memorial service took place Saturday November 28, 2015 at 2:00 pm. At the Coeur D' Alene Casino and Resort.