Ollia Mae Lay from Peru, Indiana, passed away peacefully in her home on April 15, 2017. She is resting in Heaven after enjoying a long and fulfilling life as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, loyal friend, and more to all who were fortunate to have known her. Ollia was born on December 4, 1926 in Fort Myers, Florida to the late Frank Sr and Retha (Taylor) Simmons. She married Staff Sergeant (SSGT) George Lay on December 11, 1950 at Westover Air Force Base, retiring as Master Sergeant (MSGT) at Grissom Air Force Base after serving twenty-six years in the United States Armed Forces.
Along with George, she traveled the world living in places such as Burtonwood Royal Air Force Station in England, Tachikawa Air Force Base in Japan, and several Air Bases in the United States before settling down at Grissom Air Force Base, Bunker Hill, IN. Ollia was employed by General Motors – Delco Electronics in Kokomo for twenty-one years, retiring in May 1992 where she worked on the line and in FAB III.
She was a faithful member of Mount Zion Apostolic Tabernacle Church, Logansport, IN for close to forty years, where she served the Lord in many capacities from being an Evangelist to Sunday School teacher, worship Leader, and planning church events. Ollia loved cooking and worked as a caterer in Brooklyn, NY as a young woman. Her love for family and friends was immeasurable. She was a hostess to many in her home over the years and maintained those friendships despite the distance between them.
Ollia is survived by George, her husband of sixty-seven years, sons Rockland (Paula) Lay, Ansah (Michele) Lay, and daughter Koleki (Neal Paige) Wright. She also is survived by seven granddaughters, Raquel (Thomas) Phillips, Victoria (Shelton) Swanson, Michelle Lay, Gabriella Wright, Kennedy Wright, Dominique Lay and Aven Lay; two grandsons, Isaiah Lay and Donivan Wright; two sisters, Elnora Gillylan and Rosemary Washington; brother George Simmons; four great-grandchildren and a host of special nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Ollia is preceded in death by parents Frank Sr and Retha (Taylor) Simmons; brothers Claude, Ray, Edward, Frank, Ivory, Paul, and Robert Lee; sisters Wilbur and Katy.
Please join our family in her Celebration of Life service on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at New Testament Apostolic Church, 3041 Westmoor Drive, Kokomo, IN. Viewing 9 am – 10:30 am; Celebration 10:30 am – 12:30 pm. Interment will follow the celebration at Marion National Cemetery. Donations may be made on behalf of Ollia to the Alzheimer’s Association of Indiana, 50 E 91st St #100, Indianapolis, IN 46240.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Flowers-Leedy Funeral Home. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.FlowersLeedyAllen.com.