On Saturday, September 19, 2020, Robert “Bob” Terrell Gay, Jr., loving husband and father of two children, passed away at the age of 82. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family.
Bob was born on July 14, 1938 in Fort Gaines, Georgia to Robert and Doris Gay. He was in the US Army until January 1966. He was a laboratory technologist for Fox Army Hospital for over 30 years until his retirement. After his retirement, he worked for the south Huntsville Lowe’s for several years in the garden center.
On December 20, 1964 he married his sweetheart, Joyce Allen whom he met when they were both members of the Huntsville Community Chorus. They raised two children, Cherri and Chris.
Bob loved gardening and could always be found in his yard. He also loved birds and spent much of his life dedicating his yard to being a haven for his beloved purple martins. Bob never met a stranger and was always willing to share his love of botany with anyone who would listen. Bob was a past member of the Daylily Society, the Iris Society, the Rose society and was a Master Gardener. Bob was a member of Willowbrook Baptist Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
Bob was preceded in death by his father, Robert, and his mother, Doris. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; children, Cherri Simonds and husband, Darrell, and Chris Gay and wife, Sheree; sister, Sandy Armstrong; and nieces, Mandy Roberson and Megan Reardon.
Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, September 23, 2020, at Laughlin Service Funeral Home, 2320 Bob Wallace Avenue SW, Huntsville, Alabama 35805. A graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Huntsville Botanical Gardens.
