Capt. William N. “Buck” Lay William Norman “Buck” Lay, 74, passed away on May 30, 2011. Buck was born in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, on January 12, 1937, the son of Hardy and Pearl Humphreys Lay. He was raised in Columbia, Louisiana, and was graduated from Grayson High School in 1955. He served in the U.S. Army for three years. On March 24, 1962, he married Helen F. Baugh. They left Columbia in 1973 and began a series of job-related moves within the river industry. Buck had started as a deckhand in 1958 and progressed to captain. He then held several shoreside positions including V.P. of Operations in two barge companies. In 1985, he and Helen settled in Paducah, KY, where together they started B & H Towing Co., Inc. and operated the company for 23 years. In Paducah, Buck was a dedicated member of Immanuel Baptist Church where he served in many ways including as a deacon, chair of the Future Development Committee, and participant in a variety of mission activities including numerous trips to Klintsy, Russia. He also served his community in a variety of civic roles that included active involvement with the River Discovery Center and the United Way. He will be remembered for his strong Christian faith, his love of and devotion to family and friends, his strengths in leadership and mentoring, and his service and generosity to others. Buck is survived by his four children and eight grandchildren: Keith Melissa Lay of Paducah and their children Ashley, Caleb, and Matthew; Phyllis Boyd of Paducah and her children Cody and Andi; Cindy John Harter of Richmond, KY, and their children Mary and William; and Celeste Chris Fettweis Lay of New Orleans, LA, and their daughter Lucy. Also surviving are one sister, Nelda May, of Columbia, LA, and numerous nieces and nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his sister Lynette Lay, and his nephew Larry Steele. Funeral services will be held in Paducah on Thursday, June 2, at 11:00 am at Immanuel Baptist Church, with Rev. Jamie Broome officiating. Friends may call at Milner and Orr from 5:00 – 8:00 pm on Wednesday, June 1. Visitation will resume in the parlor at Immanuel Baptist Church on Thursday at 10:00 am. The body will be transported to Louisiana for burial at Palestine Baptist Church Cemetery, Caldwell Parish. Visitation will be held at Palestine on Saturday, June 4, at 9:30 – 11:30 am, and a graveside service will be held there on Saturday at Noon. Memorial contributions may be made to the Immanuel Baptist Church Building and Grounds Buck Lay Memorial Fund, 3465 Buckner Lane, Paducah, KY 42001; or, to the River Discovery Center, 117 S. Water St., Paducah, KY 42001.