Gary Lee Gay

Gary L. Gay, 67, of St. Paul, died Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, at Brookefield Park in St. Paul. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul. The Rev. Sidney B. Bruggeman will officiate. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family. Gary was born Oct. 30, 1950, on a farm in Howard County in the Rock Creek area north of St. Paul, the son of Paul Everett and Edna Viola (Nielsen) Gay. In 1954, the family moved into St. Paul, where Gary attended St. Paul Public School and graduated from St. Paul High School in 1968. He then worked at Diamond Plastics in Grand Island. He was united in marriage to Ielene Schwieger on Jan. 5, 1974, in St. Paul. Three children were born to this union, Nellie, Derrick and Misty. He then worked for the Pepsi Bottling Company in Grand Island. He was united in marriage to Kay Lynn Schenck on March 28, 1987, in St. Paul. The couple lived in St. Paul where they raised their three sons, Steven, Colin and Brian. He worked at S.E. Smith & Sons Lumber Company in St. Paul and later at Builders Warehouse in Grand Island. In 2002, he was forced to retire due to his failing health. He enjoyed fishing and doing word find puzzles. He loved woodworking and spending time with his sons and extended family. He is survived by his wife, Kay Gay of St. Paul; two sons, Colin Schenck and fiancee', Lauren Cantrell of Grand Island, Brian Gay and Amy Ward of Grand Island; children from his first marriage, Derrick Humphrey of Florida and Misty Margritz of Giltner; two brothers and two sisters-in-law, Donald Gay of Grand Island, Larry and Nila Gay of St. Paul and Mary Gay of Palmer; and three sisters, Ellen Dalrymple of Ericson, and Joyce Gay and Doretta Arent, both of Grand Island. He was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter, Nellie Gay; son, Steven Gay; brothers and sister-in-law, James Gay and Robert and Alice Gay; and his in-laws, Eddie and Tillie Schenck. In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials are suggested to the family.