Wilmer 'Bill' Gay
Wilmer Ira “Bill” Gay, age 88 of Portage, passed away peacefully Sept. 28, 2009 at the Hospice House in Baraboo.
Memorial funeral services will be Saturday, Oct. 10, at 11 a.m. at the Picha Funeral Home in Portage with Pastor Barbara Bolz officiating. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. Interment of Bill’s cremains will be immediately following the service at the Briggsville Protestant Cemetery. Military rites at the graveside will be provided by the Briggsville American Legion Post 329.
Bill was born Oct. 31, 1920 to Joseph and Edith (Gray) Gay. He was a 1938 graduate of Portage High School, where he was a member of the varsity boxing team and enjoyed woodworking. Bill worked on the family farm until World War II, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1942 after graduating from basic training, Bill was selected for officer candidate school, where upon completion, he was designated to train as a bombardier. After graduation Bill was assigned to the 5th Air Force Division in the South Pacific flying B-24’s. First Lieutenant Gay flew 52 combat missions in the South Pacific, while assigned to the 5th Air Force. Military decorations included the air medal with eight oak leaf clusters, the Asian campaign medal with the invasion of the Philippines, as well as many other commendations.
After completing his military service, he met and married Jane Evelyn Grant in May 1945, in El Paso, Texas. They were blessed with three children, Gale G. (Mary) Gay, Ralph B. (Lisa) Gay and Thelma M. (Mitchel) Craig. Jane preceded Bill in death in 1986. In November 1993 Bill married Mary L. Corning.
Bill was a member of the United Methodist Church in Briggsville; he spent 60 plus years in the American Legion Post 329, where he was a former commander. Bill was a master carpenter, and a member of the local Carpenters Union. He was also an avid sports enthusiast, participating in area baseball teams, and had a passion for reading Louis L’Amour books.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Edith Gay; three brothers, Leslie (Iva) Gay, James (Shirley) Gay and Raymond (Mary) Gay; and his beloved first wife Jane E. Gay.
He is survived by his wife Mary L. Gay and her family; his three children; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Elizabeth (Warren) Coon and Lois (Bill) Bescup; and many nephews and nieces.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Legion Post 329 or the Portage Public Library
The Picha Funeral Home and Crematory of Portage assisted the family with arrangements. For online condolences, go to www.pichafuneralhome.com.