Wayne Gay

Gay, Wayne 11/2/1938 - 11/30/2020 Hartford Wayne W. Gay, age 82, died on November 30, 2020 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born November 2, 1938 in Hamilton, Alabama. At age 9, his family moved to Watervliet, Michigan where he graduated high school in 1956. He joined the Army out of high school serving with the Army Security Agency in as a High Speed Radio Operator/Radio Countermeasures Operator in Germany. After returning stateside, he worked for the Watervliet Paper Mill. In 1966, he started working for Michigan Bell, later Ameritech, retiring in February 1999 with 33 years of service. While at the telephone company – he served at every level of the local chapter of the Communication Workers of America. Married three times (Jeanne, Lorraine (resulting in two daughters, Tracy and Holly)), in 1975, he married the love of his life, Shirley, and they recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. He loved her children, Laurie and Kevin, like his own. He was known as a man who loved deeply. Wayne had the gift of gab and could make conversation with anyone. Friendly and kind - everyone knew him as the go to man to get things done. He would help anyone who needed it. Throughout his life, Wayne was an avid sportsman – he loved golf, bowling, bike riding, gardening and bird watching. He was a dedicated bowler earning a 300-game ring and traveling to tournaments throughout the country with his bowling and golf partner George Huffman. He loved golf so much he would often golf in the rain and snow. He enjoyed watching Michigan State Football and Basketball and never missed watching a major golf tournament on television. He was incredibly active up until his death biking riding seven miles and golfing - walking (not riding) the front nine at Lake Cora Golf Course three weeks prior to his death from COVID. Wayne was also a wealth of information – he loved reading and doing his crosswords and word jumbles from the Sunday paper. He was a photographer of both nature and capturing memories from family gatherings. He absolutely loved nature's beauty and spent a 45 years gardening at his home in Hartford Michigan caring for his beloved roses, petunias and mums. Wayne will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Shirley; his daughters Tracy Gay of Shepherdstown, W.Va., and Holly Gay of Hartford; step-daughter Laurie Murphy of Lexington, N.C.; and step-son Kevin Murphy of Grand Rapids. He will be remembered by his five grandchildren and his nine great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, Paul, in 1963 along with his parents. The family wishes to thank Bronson Hospital and all the professionals who took care of him during his final days when we could not be with him. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday and from 10:00 a.m. - noon on Thursday at Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home in Coloma. Private family services will follow with burial taking place in Watervliet City Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the West Michigan Cancer Center. The family welcomes memories and messages in their guest book online at www.duffieldpastrick.com.