Helen C. Lay

October 26, 1928 - May 17, 2018

TORRINGTON, WYOMING...........Mass of Christian Burial for HELEN C. LAY, 89, will be held at 11am Friday, May 25, 2018 at St Rose Catholic Church with Father Ray Moss officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. Helen died May 17, 2018 at her home in Torrington. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to the Senior Friendship Center or St Rose Catholic Church. Visitation will be at the funeral from 3pm to 5pm Thursday. A Rosary will be recited Thursday at 6pm at the church. Arrangements are by the Colyer Funeral Home and condolences may be sent to www.colyerfuneralhome.com. Helen was born October 26, 1928 in Rapid City, South Dakota the daughter of Harry and Margaret (Dunn) Hirz. Her family moved to a ranch thirty miles north of Torrington, Wyoming when she was three. She received her early education at Backhaus School and later graduated Harrison High School in 1946. She taught at the Burge School for a while before marrying Randall “Mike” Lay on May 17, 1947 in Torrington. They worked on a ranch for Hans Northness and at his death inherited the ranch. Their family continued to run the ranch until present day. She sewed clothes for her family, neighbors and friends for many years up until just prior to her death. Helen truly enjoyed to sew and crochet. She was a member of the Sunbonnet Gals, the Altar Society at St Rose, and the VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries. She also helped with bingo at the Legion. Helen is survived by her son Gene (Linda) Lay of Torrington, Wyoming; daughters Lana (Gary) Svoboda of Lincoln, Nebraska, Lori (Ted) Niemeyer of Wonder Lake, Illinois and Beth Ann (Tim) Dieriex of Hillsdale, Wyoming; siblings Estella Lay of Oregon, Doris Martin of Willows, California, Ada Vaughn of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Ned Hirz of Moses Lake, Washington, Elsa Scalvini of Willows, Nancy Dawes of Susanville, California and Charlie Ralph Hirz of Moses Lake; eleven grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Mike; children Kevin Lay and Kimberly Sue Lay; sisters Wanna Howery and Carrie Hermann; and brother Jim Hirz.