Pastor Ronnie (Ron) Lee Gay, 56, of Rapid City, passed away suddenly on Sat, Jun 9, 2012 at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac. He was born on Mar 24, 1956 in Wheeling, West Virginia to Paul and Dawn (Fleming) Gay.
Ron is survived by his wife Sharon of 37 years; his children, Matthew Aaron (Cheryl) Gay of Gladstone, Misty Lynn (David) Marshall of Kalkaska, Melanie Lee (Dennis) Farmer, Bradley Alex Gay, Cory Michael Gay, Kaylee Kristine Gay, Emily Elizabeth Gay, Chrissilyn Gay, Andrew Jarvis Gay, Joel Jaiden Gay, and Jonah Paul Gay all of Rapid City; his mother, Dawn Gay of Florida; his grandchildren, Jacob, Joseph, Joshua, and Jelena Marshall, Adrianah, Aleah, and Eli Farmer, MacKenzie and Carriann Gay, Travis James Evans and Cameron Pastor; and his siblings, Kim A Gay of Alabama, Kandy Buchanan of Ohio, Jamie Gay of Georgia, and Chris Gay of Hawaii.
Ron was preceded in death by his father, Paul Gay and his sons, Zachary Evan Gay and Brady Christian Gay.
Ron married his childhood sweetheart, Sharon Brand on Sep 7, 1974 in Bellvue, OH and together they raised a beautiful family. He met Sharon in Mrs. STauffer's 6th grade class. Ron was the Senior Pastor at the Torch Lake Assembly of God Church. He was a devoted family man. Ron cared deeply about his community, living and practicing the Word of Jesus, and was a very compassionate disciple of Christ. Seeing a need, Ron founded the Rapid City Area Food Pantry in 2000. Ron was currently the KAIR Board President in Kalkaska.
Visitation was held Wed, Jun 13 from 2 to 4pm and 7 to 9 pm at Wolfe-O'Neill Funeral Home. The funeral was Thu at 11am at the Kalkaska Church of Christ with Pastor Huse Johnson and Pastor Richard VanBeek officiating. Burial was in Clearwater Township Cemetery.
Memorials may be given to the Rapid City Area Food Pantry, PO Box 333, Rapid City, MI 49676.
