Perry Carson Hay

Perry Carson Hay

Perry Carson ‘PC’ Hay, 96, born in Clinton County Ky on November 26, 1929, passed away at his home, on the farm that he loved, on December 3, 2025. Born to Mabel Perkins and Luther Hay. He was a brother to Joan Hay Talbott and the late Bill Hay. Perry grew up in the Decide community of Clinton County.

At the age of 18, in 1948, he hitchhiked his way to Corbin Ky to enlist in the ARMY. But upon arriving at the recruiting station, he decided the AIR FORCE seemed much more appealing. He boarded a train the same day and was fast on his way to San Antonio Tx for Basic Training. From San Antonio he was then stationed at ARMY/AIRFORCE Recruiting and Induction Station in Houston Tx. Serving seven years of active-duty service, he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He worked as an AIR FORCE Recruiter by day, and as a men’s suit salesman by night at Foley’s Department Store in downtown Houston.

November 22, 1951 he met and married Anita Simmons in Baytown Tx. They had two sons, Robert and Richard Hay.

Upon separation from the AIR FORCE, in 1958, Perry then relocated his family, to Richmond Ky, where he obtained a degree in History and Math Education from Eastern Kentucky University.

In 1961 he returned to Albany Ky as the Principal of Clinton County High School. While there, he touched many lives. Very few mischievous, misbehaving or truant students were able to outsmart Mr. Hay. He retired from this position in 1982 to take the job he always wanted…to be a farmer.

Perry has raised corn, hay, watermelons,cattle, tobacco, Half Linger Horses, rhubarb and a few peacocks. There were few Christmas mornings in his early career as a farmer that there weren’t one or two newborn calves in his basement.

Naturally he was a quiet man, but when he spoke everyone in the room listened. He was quick with a joke, and his laugh was as loud as a thunderclap. He was an avid historian and always had a ‘This one time…’ story to tell anyone willing to listen.

He was a seasoned connoisseur of watermelon, good fried catfish, pies, carrot cakes and never met a cabbage casserole he didn’t like.

Perry taught his kids, grandkids and great grandkids many things. He emphasized the importance of an education. Taught them how to back a four-wheel wagon and grow corn as tall as the sky. But most importantly, he was living proof that hard work wouldn’t kill you.

He was an esteemed member of Kentucky Farm Bureau Board of Directors and was actively involved with several Cattleman’s Associations in Clinton, Cumberland and Russell Counties.

He will be greatly missed.

PC is survived by his wife of seventy-four years, Marian Anita Simmons Hay. Two sons, Robert (Pam) Hay of Albany Ky & Richard (Anita) Hay of Somerset Ky. Four Grandchildren Laura (Jeremy) Hay of Albany Ky, Sarah (Matthew) Knight of Somerset Ky, Wesley (Becky) Hay of Rockholds Ky and Jordan (Makenzie) Hay of Lexington Ky. Eight Great Grandchildren Adam, Claire, Kendall & Mac Hay all of Albany Ky, Madeline & Max Knight of Somerset and , Jacob & Elijah Blair of Rockholds Ky.

Burial will be in Memorial Hill Cemetery.