© Marietta Monitor
21 Dec 2001,  Page 4

Mr. Gay was born March 4, 1921, at Orr, the son of Cozy Cleveland and Mary Burt Gay. He died Thursday, December 13, 2001, at his son's residence at Lebanon.

A resident of Marietta since 1954, Mr. Gay operated the G&G Department Store in Marietta from 1954 until 1967 and then operated the 77-32 Grocery, also in Marietta, for four years.

He and Inez Marie Copeland were married November 28, 1939, in Wilson, and she preceded him in death on March 20, 1993. Mr. Gay was a member of Marietta's First Baptist Church.

 Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Ronnie and Ann Gay of Lebanon; a daughter and son-in-law, Deanna and Wayne Maye of Haworth; a brother, Clarence Gay of Hughson, California; two sisters, Cordie Mae Tipton of Arcata, California, and Betty Jackson of Tulsa; a great-aunt, Lottie Gilcrease of Brushy Mound; a special friend, Melba Hagood of Lebanon; five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Gay was also preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Kitty Gilcrease; and a brother, Clyde Gay.

Pallbearers were Randy Hagood, Ronnie Hagood, Bud Hill, Lawrence Sieger, Gene Burton and J.C. Harris. Honorary pallbearers were Chris Stone, Bill Castleberry, Curtis Elliff, Jerry McGill, Ben Ballard and John Kennedy.

Interment was in Lakeview Cemetery in Marietta, under the direction of Flanagan-Watts Funeral Home.