Wilda L. Shay July 09, 1927 – January 08, 2019 Share this obituary Sign Guestbook| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Wilda LaRee (West) Shay, 91, passed away on Tuesday, January 8th, 2019, at Presbyterian Manor in Arkansas City, following an illness for which she had been hospitalized on Christmas Day. Wilda was born in Morrill, Nebraska, on July 9th, 1927, to Frank and Anna (Warner) West. She spent her early years in the Scottsbluff area.
As an only child, her favorite playmate was her little dog, Curley, the first of her many beloved pets. When she was 15, the family moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where she met an Air Force serviceman on leave, Clyde Wendell Shay, when he fell at her feet at the skating rink. Wilda and Clyde were married on July 20th, 1945, in Wichita.
Their marriage was loving and long lived. In 1946, they made their home in Clyde’s hometown, Winfield, in the house Wilda would live in until 2018. They lost their newborn son Dennis in 1946.
They went on to raise children Janice, Randy, and Denise there, with both Clyde’s parents and her own parents residing in Winfield. Clyde was a house painting contractor, and Wilda worked at Binney & Smith, from 1969 until 1986. Devoted Christians, Wilda and Clyde attended the EUB Church, Trinity United Methodist Church, the Evangelical Free Church, and the Cornerstone Bible Fellowship, in Winfield.
Wilda was an inspirational spiritual guide to her family, always willing to listen, to comfort, and to pray. She had a loving and generous heart and enjoyed many close friendships throughout her life. Over the years, she sent many cards and letters to friends and family, cooked many delicious meals for them, and relished their many conversations.
She loved her family, and greatly enjoyed having them gather at her home. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, niece, daughter, cousin and friend. She led a long and happy life, and she will be greatly missed.
Wilda was preceded in death by Clyde in 2012, her daughter, Janice Williams, in 2009, son Dennis, her parents, Clyde’s parents, Clyde C. and Winifred Shay, and her brothers- and sisters-in-law. Wilda is survived by her son, Randy Shay and his wife Vicky, of Udall; her daughter, Denise Shay Downum, of Flagstaff, Arizona; grandchildren Stephanie Hider, Lori Thomas, Bryan Shay (Eva), Jenifer Pipes (David), Ellen Downum and Brendan Downum; seven great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews, Patricia and Kent Vinyard, Harold and Mary Stafford, Vicki Walls, Judy Shay, and Michael Shay; Nebraska cousins, and Missouri cousins, John and Lois Baughman, Virginia Baughman, Ruby Ellis, Darryl and Shirley West, and Dixie West, and their families. Funeral services will be held Monday, January 14, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. at Miles Funeral Service.
Interment will follow at Highland Cemetery. A visitation is scheduled at the funeral home on Sunday afternoon from 2 to 4 P.M. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Cowley County Humane Society. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
