James Festus Allen Lay

James Allen "Festus" Lay, 66, of Vincennes, passed away Saturday morning July 9, 2011 at his residence following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born June 12, 1945 in Vincennes and has lived here his entire life. He was a pipe-fitter for International Union of Operating Engineers Local # 841 and had previously worked at Prestolite. James was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War and was a member of the American Legion.

James is survived by his mother Dorothy A. (Noble) Lay of Vincennes, his fiance, Joni Arnold of Vincennes, 4 daughters, Janice Luttrell and Patricia Burton both of Vincennes, Karla Alvord of Lawrenceville, IL and Amanda Brocker of GA and 2 sons, James Robert Lay of Vincennes and Thomas Leroy Lay of IL, 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Francis James Lay in 1988.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. in Gardner-Brockman Funeral Home 505 Main Street with the Rev. Glenn Archer officiating. Following the service, he will be laid to rest in Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors provided by the All Weather Firing Squad. Friends may visit and share memories of James with the family on Monday from 4 until 8 p.m. at Gardner-Brockman Funeral Home 505 Main Street.