William “Bill” Raymond Gay, 84, husband of 56 years to Frankie Williamson Gay, passed away on the morning of Wednesday, July 10th, 2024, in Lexington, KY.  

Bill retired from the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government in 2004 after over 20 years. He was a devoted veteran after serving 30+ years as a Gunnery Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps and Command Sergeant Major in the U.S. Army Reserves. Bill was a dedicated and vital member of the Dan Daly Detachment #858 of the Marine Corps League, serving as Commandant for several years before health issues forced him to retire.  Mr. Gay was also a huge supporter of the Boy Scouts of America, spending over 60 years in the program as both a scout and revered leader. Most of his time in scouting was with Troop 98 at Rosemont Baptist Church in Lexington, KY, where he was proud to have helped shape many young boys into great men and leaders of today. These volunteer and leadership endeavors led Bill to win several national adult scouting awards, as well as being named KY Marine of the Year in 2008, receiving the Marine Corps League Commandants Award for Excellence in 2023, and being inducted into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame in September 2023.  

Despite all the accolades, Bill’s most cherished roles were those of husband, father, and brother with the bond of family meaning everything to him. Along with his wife, Frankie, Bill is survived by his son, William R. Gay II (Billy/Bill), Gallatin, TN; daughter, Deidre "DeeDee" Florence Gay Jewell, Lexington, KY; sister-in-law, Loretta "Faye" Dailey Gay, Lexington, KY; and countless sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces, friends, and caring neighbors who became family. Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Kirk Gay and Florence Virginia Jessee Gay; sisters Julia Ann “Judy” (W.C.) Florence and Martha Frances “Sugar” (Bill) Gill; and brother, Robert Ellis “Sonny” (Faye) Gay. 

Visitation will be 1:00pm-3:00pm Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Clark Legacy Center in Brannon Crossing, followed by a service at 3:00pm. Military honors and burial at Camp Nelson National Cemetery will be at 2:30pm Monday, July 15, 2024.  Those wishing to participate in the procession to the cemetery should be at Clark Legacy Center by 1:30pm. Honorary pallbearers are the members of the Marine Corps League Dan Daly Detachment #858.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to MCL Dan Daly Detachment #858.