Samuel
Samuel Gay
d. March 14, 2012
Sam D. Gay, 94, died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Olathe. The family would like to thank the staff at Good Samaritan for their care and compassion over the last two years.
Sam was born in Garfield, GA, September 14, 1917, the sixth of 11 children, to Dan and Rosa Gay. He graduated from Portal (GA) High School, and served in the US Army Air Force during World War II as an air traffic controller. In 1945 he married Helen N. Johnson of Macksville, KS. He was a manager at A&P grocery stores in Georgia until he and Helen moved to Pawnee County, KS, in 1949 to help her parents on their wheat farm. In 1951 they moved to Mission, KS, in order to be near medical treatment for a sick child. Sam started selling Watkins Products in 1959 and headed the number one distributorship in the country for many years. He finally retired at the age of 87.
Sam worked hard all his life and gave generously to his churches, as well as to individuals. He enjoyed playing ball with his children and grandchildren, and often took them to baseball games, first to the KC A's and then to the Royals.
Sam is preceded in death by his parents, 10 siblings, and a son, Steven Charles Gay. Sam is survived by his wife Helen of 66 years, his children Jane Dolbeare, OP, KS, Tim Gay (Jane), Bella Vista, AR, and Debbie Morris (Gene), Olathe, KS, 7 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30pm, Sunday, March 18, at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Chapel at 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS. Visitation will be at 1:30pm.
Contributions can be given to Good Samaritan Society, 20705 W 151 St, Olathe, Ks 66061.
Sam was born in Garfield, GA, September 14, 1917, the sixth of 11 children, to Dan and Rosa Gay. He graduated from Portal (GA) High School, and served in the US Army Air Force during World War II as an air traffic controller. In 1945 he married Helen N. Johnson of Macksville, KS. He was a manager at A&P grocery stores in Georgia until he and Helen moved to Pawnee County, KS, in 1949 to help her parents on their wheat farm. In 1951 they moved to Mission, KS, in order to be near medical treatment for a sick child. Sam started selling Watkins Products in 1959 and headed the number one distributorship in the country for many years. He finally retired at the age of 87.
Sam worked hard all his life and gave generously to his churches, as well as to individuals. He enjoyed playing ball with his children and grandchildren, and often took them to baseball games, first to the KC A's and then to the Royals.
Sam is preceded in death by his parents, 10 siblings, and a son, Steven Charles Gay. Sam is survived by his wife Helen of 66 years, his children Jane Dolbeare, OP, KS, Tim Gay (Jane), Bella Vista, AR, and Debbie Morris (Gene), Olathe, KS, 7 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30pm, Sunday, March 18, at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Chapel at 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS. Visitation will be at 1:30pm.
Contributions can be given to Good Samaritan Society, 20705 W 151 St, Olathe, Ks 66061.
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