Samuel David Clay

Sam was born on May 28th, 1959 to George William Clay III and Margaret Elizabeth (McAllister) Clay. Sam graduated from Monterey High School in Lubbock Texas in 1977. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Sam worked in the cotton business for the remainder of his life working with Dunavant Enterprises until 2008, then at Olam Cotton and finally Toyo Cotton Company since 2016. Sam was active in the Memphis Cotton Exchange, Southern Cotton Association, American Cotton Shippers Association and Texas Cotton Association and served as Texas Cotton Association’s President in 2021 and 2022. He was a member of the Highland Park Presbyterian Church.

Sam’s love was hunting and fishing, also following in the footsteps of his father. He hunted and fished with his dad and brother growing up and then moved to Memphis and met Phil Canale, whom he called “Albert”, and they hunted and fished together every moment of their spare time, much to the chagrin of the poor women in their lives. They traveled all over the United States and Canada pursuing fish, fowl and large game and formed a friendship that most people only get to dream about.

Samuel was preceded in death by his father, George William Clay III. Survivors are his mother, Margaret “Peggy” Clay, his siblings, George William Clay IV (Dana), and Julie Ann Zager (Michael), and a host of nieces and nephews, Elizabeth Anne Naus (Peter), George William Clay V (Brooke), Dale Raymond Clay (Sarah), Allison Zager and Samuel Zager, as well as his most loyal friend, Lee Logan.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, May 4th, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Combest Family Funeral Home in Lubbock, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lubbock Meals on Wheels, where his mom and dad volunteered for over 40 years.