Obituary for Dr. Freddie Gay
Dr. Freddie Gay went to his Heavenly reward on May 20, 2023. He is preceded in death by his parents Allen and Mamie Gay; his wife of 52 years, Betty Gay; a daughter, Alysia King; a grandson, David King. Reverend Gay is survived by his wife of 13 years, Carolyn Sue Gay of Halley, AR; a daughter, Becky (Dewayne) White of Hot Springs; a son, Allen (Pear) Gay of Chandler, AZ; a son, Bill (Dawn) Gay of Hot Springs; a son, Robby (Pam) Waldrup of Collins, AR; a sister, Patsy Chaillet (Alex) of Cherokee Village, AR; and a special bonus daughter, Brenda (Charlie) Simpson of Biscoe, AR. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and numerous great- and great-great -grandchildren.
Reverend Gay was a pastor for 61 years, serving 17 churches in Arkansas, and one in Texas. He also worked as Director of Missions for Carey Baptist Association before retiring for the first of many times. Over the years, Reverend Gay has also worked as an elementary school teacher, a school bus driver, a rock mason, a carpenter, a farmhand, and an evangelist. He is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, and Mid America Seminary, where he earned his Doctorate of Theology degree.
In his free time (of which there was little) Freddie enjoyed woodworking, mowing the grass, picking up pecans, riding along the levee, and collecting marbles. He was an avid Razorbacks fan who loved watching his Hogs play football and basketball, and was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys.
Freddie worked for General Motors when he was a young man in Flint, Michigan, where he met his wife, Betty Jean Reasor. But Reverend Gay’s true calling was sharing the word of God, which he did for 63 years. When Betty died in 2008, Freddie found love again when he met Carolyn Sue Waldrup. They were married in October of 2009.
Reverend Gay will be remembered as man who loved God and loved others. He never hesitated to share his faith, and he was more than excited to tell someone what God had done for him.
Visitation will be held Saturday May 27 at 1 PM at Halley Baptist Church in Halley, Arkansas. Funeral service will follow at 2 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Gideon’s International, in the name of Freddie Gay, P.O. Box 13, McGehee, AR 71654.
Reverend Gay was a pastor for 61 years, serving 17 churches in Arkansas, and one in Texas. He also worked as Director of Missions for Carey Baptist Association before retiring for the first of many times. Over the years, Reverend Gay has also worked as an elementary school teacher, a school bus driver, a rock mason, a carpenter, a farmhand, and an evangelist. He is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, and Mid America Seminary, where he earned his Doctorate of Theology degree.
In his free time (of which there was little) Freddie enjoyed woodworking, mowing the grass, picking up pecans, riding along the levee, and collecting marbles. He was an avid Razorbacks fan who loved watching his Hogs play football and basketball, and was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys.
Freddie worked for General Motors when he was a young man in Flint, Michigan, where he met his wife, Betty Jean Reasor. But Reverend Gay’s true calling was sharing the word of God, which he did for 63 years. When Betty died in 2008, Freddie found love again when he met Carolyn Sue Waldrup. They were married in October of 2009.
Reverend Gay will be remembered as man who loved God and loved others. He never hesitated to share his faith, and he was more than excited to tell someone what God had done for him.
Visitation will be held Saturday May 27 at 1 PM at Halley Baptist Church in Halley, Arkansas. Funeral service will follow at 2 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Gideon’s International, in the name of Freddie Gay, P.O. Box 13, McGehee, AR 71654.