| Notes |
- Obituary:
Mr. William Joseph "Bill" Gay, Jr., 88, a resident of Lake, MS passed away on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at his residence. Visitation will be held at Wolf Funeral Services in Lake, MS on Thursday, December 20, 2012 from 5:30 until 8:00 pm and Friday, December 21, 2012 from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon. Funeral services will be Friday at 1:00 pm at High Hill Methodist Church with burial in the High Hill Methodist cemetery. Officiating will be Elder George Gardner, Rev. Gene Banes and Rev. Scott Fortenberry. Wolf Funeral Services in Lake, MS will be in charge of arrangements.
Bill was born in Forest, MS to William Joseph Gay, Sr. and Birdie Cleo Gardner Gay on September 28, 1924. He was a graduate of Forest High School. After graduating from high school he joined the U.S. Navy and served aboard the USS Tuscaloosa in WW II. He was very proud of his service and talked about his participation in D-Day, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. After his service to his country he returned to Mississippi and attended Mississippi State University and the University of Southern Mississippi where he graduated with a degree in Business. He met his bride, Dale (Wilkerson) Gay while attending college at University of Southern Mississippi and they were married almost 60 years. During their years together they lived in Columbus, MS, Pensacola, FL, and Slidell, LA before returning back to their home in Forest, MS for retirement. He retired from GE after thirty years of service. He played semi-pro baseball, danced on Broadway, he was a member of Forest Baptist Church and led the Choir for many years, and also sang on the radio. He lived a very full life, to say the least. He enjoyed playing golf and attending all University of Southern Mississippi sports events and was a faithful University of Southern Mississippi fan. Anyone who knew him knew his devotion to University of Southern Mississippi football.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William Joseph Gay, Sr, and Birdie Cleo Gay; his wife, Frances Dale Wilkerson Gay; brother, Jack Lamar Gay.
He is survived by his son, Eddie Gay of Jackson, MS; two daughters, Laura Cieglo and husband Tommy Cieglo of Lake, MS; Teresa Ellerbusch of Jackson, MS; six grandchildren, Mary Catherine McKay, Jonathan Ellerbusch, Mollie Cieglo, Joseph Cieglo, William Brent Gay, and Kelley Ann Gay; two great-grandchildren, Maya Frances McKay and Jacob Louis McKay.
Pallbearers will be Rickey Wilkerson, Arlan Gardner, Hiram Wilkerson, Steve Cox, Mike Milling, Joseph Cieglo, Jonathan Ellerbusch, and Brent Gay. Honorary pallbearers will be Norman Fountain, Paul Amis, Raymond Cox, Harold Dennis, Rodney Smith, Robert Maloney, Greg Broadhead, Jeff Gay, Robert Wilkerson, Russell Ratcliffe, Dr. John Paul Lee, and Walter Mack Burns.
Memorials may be made to High Hill Cemetery Fund, c/o Mr. Robert Wilkerson, 2461 Loop Rd., Lake, MS 39092.
You may leave a condolence or light a memory candle by visiting our website at www.wolffuneralservices.com.
The Clarion Ledger, Dec. 20-21, 2012
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1924 - 2012 (88 years)
