Clay grew up in Fayetteville, NC and attended Methodist College prior to joining the Army in 1966. He served in Korea, and later competed for the Fort Bragg pistol team. After leaving the Army in 1969, he began writing about firearms for sporting and hunting magazines which he did for many years before his son was born. He wrote and published four non-fiction hunting and firearm books as well as six novels. Clay was once nominated for an Edgar award.
Clay loved entertaining others and often left people laughing in stores and other encounters. He was an avid movie aficionado and enjoyed talking about them with others. He competed in, coached and judged weight lifting at the state level. He had a lifelong interest in firearms and taught others about shooting and firearm safety. He found joy in helping others be their best and was quick to recognize and praise any job well done. Clay was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in High Point. He also volunteered for several organizations.
Clay is survived by his wife, Kathie Petry, his step-daughter, Kristen Petry, his nieces and nephews, Ty Ashley, Sandy Peiffer, Rikki Eloian, Michael Ashley and their families and his honorary grandson, Joshua Walker. He was preceded in death by his son, Christopher Clayton Harvey, his sister, Anne Ashley, and his parents.
A memorial service will be held at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 1401 Heathcliff Road, High Point, NC 27262, on Sunday, October 9, 2022 at 3:00 pm. The family will greet friends after the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation or Emmanuel Lutheran Church.
The family is under the care of Sechrest-Davis Funerals and Cremations of High Point. Online condolences: www.sechrestdavisphillipsavenue.com –select obituaries.
