Clay Simpson, 92, of Bowling Green, Ky. passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Dec. 21, 2010 at Greenview Regional Hospital. The Warren County native was born Aug. 16, 1918. He was a retired furniture retailer and began his career in 1940 with Biggs Furniture in Bowling Green. He and his late wife, Vera Mae Simpson, then started their own furniture business in 1953 and remained active until 2008. The born-again Christian enjoyed southern gospel music and held various positions in the church, including Sunday school superintendent, song leader and teacher.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army who served during World War II at the Battle of Normandy, and in England, France, Germany, Holland and Belgium. He was a member of Gideons International and passed out thousands of Bibles to school-aged children. He was a former trustee at Campbellsville University.

His favorite hobby was attending Tennessee Walking Horse shows and he owned the 1958 Two-Year-Old World Grand Champion, Ebony Masterpiece.

He was a son of the late Frank and Emma Smith Simpson and the husband of the late Vera Mae Lillard Simpson. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Herbert, Thomas and James Simpson; and three sisters, Pauline London, Rena Smith and Ruby Doolin.

Survivors include a son, Bobby Simpson and his wife, Gail, of Bowling Green, Ky.; a sister, Mary Lois (Ernest) Lowe of Bowling Green; two granddaughters, Gayla (Steve) McCoy and Sheri (Philip)Hunt, all of Bowling Green; three great-granddaughters, Macey McCoy, Haylea Hunt and Jayme Hunt; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral will be at 11:00a.m. on Friday, Dec. 24, 2010 at the J.C. Kirby & Son Funeral Home, Lovers Lane chapel, with burial in Bowling Green Gardens. Visitation is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 9:00a.m. until the service Friday. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Gideons International.