2017
Obituary Overview
George Freeman Gay
With heavy hearts and wonderful memories, we announce the passing of George F. Gay, 89. A lifelong Dartmouth resident, George ended his journey peacefully in the early hours of November 30, 2017. The eldest son of the late George W. Gay and Dorothy (Levy), he was predeceased by his loving wife of 62 years, Helen; and his brothers Edgar, Harvey and Jimmie.
George began his career at Dominion Stores, sweeping floors and stocking shelves, working diligently. Over the course of more than forty years with the company, George worked as department manager, then store manager, demonstrating his remarkable work ethic and loyalty to the company. He met his beloved wife at the Spring Garden Road store, and began to travel the Atlantic Provinces as a supervisor, before finishing his career in the Head Office in Halifax in 1986.
In his younger days, George was an avid golfer, playing at every course he could, challenging himself to improve and was very proud of his ‘Club Champion’ title. His Sunday afternoons were reserved for watching golf in front of his fireplace. Otherwise, he was found outdoors. George was a dedicated fisherman and hunter, who loved spending time with his brothers, son, nephews, sons-in-law and friends in the outdoors. Every May he was on the lakes, and spent November in the woods. He looked forward to his annual hunting trip to Cape Breton each year. He instilled that love of the outdoors in all of his children, getting them hooked on camping, and hosted legendary family camping trips to Keji over many years. He and Helen and their children spent many summers travelling to the United States to visit family and enjoy camping trips with their great friends and ‘second family’, Shirley, Linc and Nancy Wales.
After retirement, George began his second life. He worked out daily at the Sportsplex for many years, and took up walking as a hobby. George didn’t just stroll the neighbourhood; it was not unusual for him to leave at daybreak and walk for several hours or the better part of the morning. He took up downhill skiing and enjoyed a few winters on the slopes at Martock. Always an avid gardener, in retirement his gardens became his passion, and his backyard his sanctuary where everyone was welcomed. He built his own greenhouse, grew all of his flowers from seed and expanded his wonderful vegetable garden, becoming well-known for his very hot pepper relish. His true claim to fame though, was his secret steak spice, which had everyone who tasted it clamouring for the recipe. George loved to play cards, and spent almost every Saturday evening playing with friends and family. He continued to play crib weekly at the Dartmouth North Community Centre and cards and darts with his new friends at Kingswood Arms.
George’s true gift was his patience. He believed in taking time, and spending time, with the people he loved most. His grandchildren were his greatest joy. He taught every one of them how to ride a bike, how to read, how to swim, and how to make the most beautiful flowered mud pies. He never worried about getting dirty – in fact, encouraged it! He helped them create whole chalk villages in his driveway for them to bike through. He was the perfect tea party guest, built wonderful pillow forts, and played dress-up with all of them. He could turn a regular movie night into an unforgettable adventure, dancing like a penguin or a chimney sweep along with the music of Mary Poppins. Holidays were his specialty: spending New Year’s Eve with Grandmother and Granddad was an annual tradition that lasted for decades. It was the Christmas season that brought out the best in George. His annual visits as Santa to family and longtime friends were a favourite tradition and the Christmas Eve drop in and Boxing Day family dinner will forever be remembered by his family. George knew how to celebrate! He even hosted his own ‘mortgage burning party,’ complete with a replica of the Penhorn Drive house he had taken a year to build from balsa wood, which he proceeded to ignite with a copy of his mortgage.
He is terribly missed by his children: George (Laura), East Petpeswick; Barb (Murray) Nause, Porter’s Lake; and Shirley (Peter) Jollimore, Hatchet Lake; his youngest brother, Don (Verna) of Dartmouth, and sister-in-law, Marion (John) Proctor, Walpole, MA. He doted on his grandchildren, Heather, Scott, Jillian, Allison, Rob and Kate, and was tickled when he became a great-grandfather to Jack, Luke, Fallon and Autumn. He will be remembered fondly by many nieces and nephews, and the legion of friends in his circle.
His family is grateful for the care and compassion shown to George by the wonderful nurses and doctors at the Dartmouth General Hospital, and Rev. Jane Clattenburg, Esther Kennedy and Bernie Hart from Christ Church. George will be celebrated at Atlantic Funeral Home, 771 Main Street, Dartmouth. Visitation will be held on Monday, December 4, 2-4PM and 7-9PM; memorial service with Rev. Kyle Wagner on Tuesday, December 5, 2PM. Family flowers only; donations in memory requested for Christ Church, Dartmouth or Pancreatic Cancer Canada.

Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of George Freeman Gay 2017.source

Death notice for the town of: Dartmouth, Province: Nova Scotia

death notice George Freeman Gay 2017- mortuary notice George Freeman Gay 2017