Clay William Allen, Jr., age 76, of Broken Arrow, died Dec. 30, 2020, after a brief struggle with COVID. He was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina Feb. 29, 1944 to Clay William Allen and Naomi Sanders Allen.
He met the love of his life, Marilyn Kathleen (Mary Kay) Pogue when he was 17 years old at a high school basketball game, and they were married March 21, 1964.
Clay was a Certified Professional Photographer, and received his Craftsman Degree from the Professional Photographers of America. He proudly served as the president of the Professional Photographers of Oklahoma and the Southwestern Photographers Association. Clay, also had a successful, and much sought after photography business as Clay Allen Photography. He completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Photojournalism from Oklahoma State University in 1966, and began his career in Photojournalism with the Examiner Enterprise in Bartlesville. In 1969, he began working for Oklahoma State University – Okmulgee, as a Technical Writer in the Public Information Department. He went on to create a degreed Photography Program at OSU Okmulgee, and began to teach what would become hundreds of Photography Students. After 34 ½ years with Oklahoma State University, he retired. He and Mary Kay had moved to Broken Arrow, OK. Tulsa Technology Center approached him to assist with a vacancy in their photography department. He accepted and spent the next 14 years, providing area high school students with his knowledge and love of photography. He loved his time at TTC and the friendships developed. He retired in 2018. He also served as a volunteer with Vocational Industrial Clubs of America, now known as Skills USA. He was their Chief Photographer at National Conferences for 47 years. Clay was a follower of Jesus Christ, and was very active in Church Leadership roles at Town and Country Christian Church in Okmulgee, and Cedar Ridge Christian Church in Broken Arrow. He also served on the Board of Directors, for many years, of the Cookson Hills children’s home in Northeast Oklahoma.
Clay Allen was preceded in death by his parents, Clay and Naomi Allen (Mahan), his step-father Wayne Mahan, and his sister Janice Stewart.
Clay is survived by his wife, Mary Kay Allen; his daughter, Melissa Adam, son-in-law Todd Adam, grandson Taylor Adam, and granddaughter Kayleigh Adam; he is also survived by his son, Scott Allen, daughter-in-law, Jennie Allen, granddaughter Madeline Allen, and grandson, Ryne Allen. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be a memorial service held at Cedar Ridge Christian Church in Broken Arrow Saturday, Jan. 9, 2020 at 1 p.m.