Iris Lee Clay, 93, of Lake City, Florida, passed away on March 13, 2026. Born in Deland, Florida, to Charles and Nellie Bane Jones, Iris lived a life centered on family and service. She spent several years managing a daycare, where her gentle care and affection for children brought joy to many young lives. Iris found quiet pleasure in reading and cooking, and she remained a faithful and beloved member of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Live Oak.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Franklin “Jeff” Clay; her sister, Irma Jean Carwile; and her brothers, Arthur, Larry, Charlie, and Paul Jones. Iris is survived by her daughters, Janet Cheek and Gloria Santanelli; her grandchildren, Derek Cheek, Shondra Gifford, Ethan Cheek, Heather Livingston, and Ashley Pruett; and her great-grandchildren, Clay, Connor, Claire, Kurstan, Cora, Ryland, Xander, and Stella.
She will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother whose warmth and steady presence touched everyone fortunate enough to know her.
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