Ervin Clay

Ervin Edward Clay passed from this world on March 26, 2019. Ervin lived in Kimball Nebraska, where he was born and spent most of his life.

Memorial services will be held at the Cantrell Funeral Home at a later date. Inurnment will be held in the Kimball Cemetery. Friends may visit http://www.cantrellfh.com to view Ervin's Tribute Wall and leave condolences and stories for the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Kimball Nebraska Food Bank. The services for Ervin have been entrusted to the Cantrell Funeral Home.

Ervin was born in Kimball on March 5th, 1932. He attended Kimball elementary, junior high and high schools, graduating in 1950. Upon graduation, he worked with his father for the Union Pacific Railroad. In 1952 he was drafted into the US Navy. His rank was petty officer and torpedo mate. He was also a petty officer policeman for his ship. He was based in Key West Florida. He was injured while on duty and received an honorable discharge in 1956. He was on disability from the Navy for his injuries.

He married Helen Lebruska in 1951 and had 3 sons, Jim, Randy and Tom Clay. Ervin was an avid and skilled cowboy and horseman, working on ranches throughout Colorado and Wyoming. He was an expert horseman and an expert marksman with both a rifle and handgun.

He was a quick draw artist with 2 holster guns set, and he won several regional competitions for quick draw target shooting. He was also skilled at leather crafts, billiards and telling great stories. When he could no longer work on ranches or ride the ponies, he did so from his rocking chair with books and western movies. He owns an extensive library of both!

He was a big fan of Johnny Cash and country music. He was a Christian and a hard-working gentle man who loved his kids, grandchildren, cousins and other family members.

He looked forward to phone calls and visits from them and seeing all the pictures on our cell phones.

He is survived by one son, Randy Clay of Fort Collins, Colorado, 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Otis Clay and Helen Rehmers and step-father Herman "Lefty" Rehmers and 2 sons, Jim Clay and Tom Clay.