Dennis Dale Gay

During the course of his 68 years, Dennis Denny Dale Gay touched, moved, and inspired all who were lucky enough to share time with him. A devoted family man, Denny loved nothing more than sharing time with his treasured family including his beautiful wife of 50 years, Deborah, his treasured children, and his delightful grandchildren. Though gone much too soon for those who loved him best, Dennys enthusiastic smiles, supportive cheers, and zest for life will forever fuel our hearts with warm memories and gratitude for the time we shared with him.

1948 proved a year of continued celebration of the nations momentous victory in World War II. Americas heroes eagerly returned home to a country filled with renewed spirit and hope ready to claim their share of the American Dream, which they fought so proudly for overseas. As American prosperity grew like no time in our history hope sprang eternal and the Greatest Generation soon proliferated creating the age of the Baby Boomers. In Columbia City, Indiana, the cause for celebration grew even greater as Dale L. and Orpha (Watson) Gay welcomed their son Dennis into their hearts and home on December 23rd.

Dennys childhood was spent in the comforts of his loving parents, and the companionship his sister Trudy and his brother Gary. Growing up in the family home on Madison Street in Columbia City afforded Denny the times typical childhood centered around the wild success of the automobile industry. By the mid-1950s seven out of ten families owned a car and for the Gay family that was excellent news! At the age of 13, Denny began proudly working with his father at the familys filling station, Dales Service Station, on Van Buren. It is there that Denny not only learned the value of hard work but the art of effective customer service. Denny grew to be a gregarious people person whose eagerness to help others out proved a blessing to many.

One of Dennys greatest blessings was his good fortune in being set up on a blind date with Deborah J. Baker. Dennys cousin and Debbies best friend were dating at the time and figured Denny and Debbie were a sure fit. The date was such a success that on January 27, 1967, the happy couple made their wedding vows at Grace Lutheran Church with the Reverend Graham L. Kleespie presiding over and blessing their union. Soon after, Denny and Debbie welcomed three treasured children into their family; son Troy, daughter Jodi, and son Jade. Denny welcomed fatherhood as his greatest life work. He devoted himself to being a solid provider for and undauntable believer in his children. Denny proved to be his childrens number one fan, passionately supporting all of their endeavors. Each of his children holds fond memories of Dennys enthusiastic willingness to participate in any of their adventures. They especially treasure his earnest cheering of their efforts at the local ballpark and motocross track.

1978 brought great change to the Gay family when Dennys father died. For about a year after his fathers passing, Denny supported his family by working on tractors and went on to driving semis, even though it was not one of his favorite jobs. He and his wife then purchased Dues Restaurant. Soon after he was talked into selling cars and went to work for Kelley Chevrolet in Ft. Wayne. To no ones surprise, Denny was a natural. His long honed customer service, commitment to hard work, and eagerness to help others forged a successful 20-year career in car sales at Thompson Chevrolet in Columbia City.

Denny retired in 2010 and spent the bulk of the next six years savoring the additional time to enjoy life. Whether playing cards, especially his favorite Hand and Foot, going out with friends, mowing his yard, working outside, polishing the chrome on his 66 Chevy Deuce, or watching IU sports Denny embraced each day as a gift. He relished in Sundays as the family always gathered for dinner, marking the past weeks challenges and accomplishments, while charting hopes for the next. Dennys heart was never fuller than in the presence of his wife, children, and grandchildren who blessed him with tremendous delight. He held his role as a grandfather with great honor and did his best to support his grandchildren in every possible way.

Arizona and Florida proved to places Denny tremendously enjoyed getting to travel to on several occasions. He liked Florida so much he had it on his list of places to visit one more time. Denny and his family were blessed to share one last hurrah together this past January when they traveled to Cape Coral and reveled in two special weeks together. Upon returning home, Dennys health declined rapidly, and he needed to be admitted into the hospice unit at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. It is in the comfort of the good care at Parkview that Denny passed away at 6:25 p.m. on Sunday, February 19, 2017. Though the world is surely duller without Dennys brilliant light, may we be comforted to feel the blazing of his legacys flame in our own hearts as we begin the honor of carrying it forward in our own lives.

Denny is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Debbie Gay; his mother, Orpha Gay, of Columbia City; his children, Troy (Angie) Gay, of Warsaw, Jodi (Kris) Parnell, of Columbia City and Jade (Heather Deckard) Gay, of Wolf Lake; sister, Trudy (Louie) Mosley, of Columbia City; sister-in-law, Kathy Gay, of Columbia City; and grandchildren, Chase (Magda) Parnell, Bryce Parnell, Maya Gay and Zack Powers. He was preceded in death by his father, Dale Gay and brother, Gary Gay.

Visitation is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday, February 23, 2017, at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services are 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home with Chaplain Karen Kosberg of Parkview Home Health and Hospice officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove (Compton) Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made in his honor to The Light House or Humane Society of Whitley County. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to read Dennys life story or to send his family condolences.