IRVINGTON—John Garry Clay Jr. passed away at his home in Irvington on October 19, 2025, at the age of 81.
Born on January 13, 1944 in Lancaster, California, he was the eldest son of John Garry Clay and Doris Boyce Clay, both of Roanoke.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Michael; and his sister, Anne Garry.
Garry is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 37 years, Margaret “Micki” Clay; his daughter, Emily Paige, son-in-law, Matthew Goodman; his niece, Booker; great-niece, Hannah Perkins; and countless cherished friends and associates.
A lifelong and proud Virginia gentleman, Garry was raised and lived in Roanoke and then Richmond. Eventually he settled with Micki on the water in his beloved Urbanna. The enduring friendships from his youth and early adulthood in Roanoke remained among his most valued treasures.
Professionally, Garry enjoyed a distinguished career as a financial advisor, holding positions with several institutions before spending his last over two decades at Davenport & Company in Kilmarnock. His work life was defined by a strong moral compass and deep integrity. Throughout his 50-plus year career, he was guide to countless clients and colleagues, many of whom came to consider him not only a trusted advocate but also a treasured friend.
Garry was generous in spirit and deed, supporting numerous charities and institutions throughout his life. He held various positions of leadership from a young age—an Eagle Scout as a boy, president of his fraternity in college, founding member and past-president of the Boat Club in White Stone and Senior Warden at Christ Church Parish in Saluda. Closest to his heart was Jacob’s Ladder, where he served on the board of directors for over 20 years and continued to champion until his passing.
A natural athlete throughout his life, Garry participated in a variety of activities with varying degrees of mastery and enthusiasm. During his lifetime he played football for Roanoke Catholic and briefly for the Hokies in his freshman year at Virginia Tech. He broke his arm playing rugby, ran “fun runs” and road races in his 30s, enjoyed canoeing, hiking throughout the U.S. and Europe, trips to Africa for Safari, boating and sailing, fly fishing, bird hunting, golf, building and racing “cocktail class” boats, croquet and in his 70s, even Pilates.
Mostly he enjoyed the camaraderie of shared interest with those communities and the inevitable and hard earned “adult beverage” that made any leisure activity complete, enjoyable and ultimately worthwhile. Ever drawn to the water, his many passions included the river, travel, collecting art, duck decoys and a lifelong reverence for reading and great books.
For Garry, life was incomplete without a view of the river, a roaring fire, a great book, a cigar, an evening drink with Micki and a loyal canine companion at his feet. A master of sartorial elegance, Garry was renowned for his exceptional taste and appreciation for fine tailoring. His unique flair for dressing left a lasting impression on all who met him. A real “Beau Brummel,” Garry always carried a handkerchief or more casually, a bandana in his back pocket.
Garry will be remembered for his dry wit and keen sense of humor, his ability to find amusement in the absurd and his remarkable gift for connecting with people of all ages and backgrounds. A man of fine character and astute observation, he stoically suffered thru many of life’s difficulties and physical ailments with a stiff upper lip and unique perspective that was a model for how to navigate life.
Garry’s life was filled with hard work, faith, luck, love, generosity, compassion, curiosity, laughter, grit and grace. Garry lived his life with deep gratitude and a commitment to the service of others and the importance of making life a little better for those less fortunate. He was a shining example of leaving the earth just a little better than you found it and his legacy will live on in those who were lucky enough to have been touched by his very unique spirit. He will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 23, at Christ Church Parish in Saluda. There will be a reception immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Jacob’s Ladder, Inc., P.O. Box 3, Urbanna, VA 23175.
Currie Funeral Home LLC of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
