Brenda Joyce Clay

Brenda Joyce Clay (formerly Upchurch)

October 21, 1947 - April 12, 2021

Please join us in remembering Brenda Joyce Clay, longtime resident of Muncie, and recently residing at the Golden Living Center. She passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Monday, April 12 at the age of 73.

Brenda’s most recent days were spent in the company of family and friends, listening to us tell stories, riding through the halls of Golden Living, and drinking Pepsi while she sassed the nurses and aides who so graciously took care of her this past year.

Brenda was born to Gussie and Nola Clay on October 21, 1947, in Lundale, West Virginia and moved to Redkey, Indiana at the age of 2. She attended Redkey schools and was a proud Redkey Wolf.

Upon graduating she moved to Muncie where she served in administrative roles at Midwest Towel, the Credit Bureau, and settling in for 35 years at Muncie Newspapers/Gannett, supporting The Muncie Star, The Muncie Evening Press, and The Star Press until her retirement in 2010. She attended True Light Baptist Church.

Brenda’s greatest joy was spending time with family and friends. A fantastic supporter of her nieces and nephews she happily attended sporting events, dance recitals, and family gatherings, while beaming with pride for each of their accomplishments. Her undying love for Emily, Katlyn, Josh, Auston, and their families was evident in every conversation she shared about them.

She was a world traveler experiencing adventures throughout the United States and Europe and always returned home with stories about people with whom she connected during the trip.    

A true social butterfly, Brenda’s greatest gift was making friends and putting others at ease with her casual conversations, her heart for helping others, and hilariously funny stories. She would, and gladly did, give the shirt off her back and would expect the same from someone whose shoes she may have loved!  She was adept at talking the nurses at Golden Living out of their Skechers. 

We offer our thanks to the entire team working in the Alzheimer’s Care Unit of the Golden Living Center, many of whom spent countless hours during the last year taking care of, and laughing with, Brenda. 

Brenda will be lovingly remembered by her brothers, Martin (Rita) Clay and Roger (Patricia) Clay; nieces, Emily (Rocky) Davis and Katlyn (Elliott) Chalfant; nephews, Josh (Lisa) Clay, and Auston Clay; great-nieces, Rowan and Berkeley Clay; and great-nephews Clay and Cole Chalfant.  

She is preceded in death by parents Gussie and Nola Clay.

Please join us in celebrating Brenda’s life on Thursday, April 15, for visitation from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. with services at 1:00 p.m., at the Parson Mortuary and Cremation Center, 801 W. Adams St., Muncie, Indiana.  Graveside services and burial will immediately follow at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Redkey. 

In lieu of flowers, please remember Brenda through a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, 8530 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60631 or donate online at https://act.alz.org. 

Online condolences may be made to the family in care of www.parsonmortuary.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Brenda Joyce Clay, please visit our floral store.