Theodore Gaty

Lt. Col. Theodore E. Gaty, III USAF Ret passed away peacefully with his wife by his side and just 12 days shy of their 72nd wedding anniversary. TheeeooooDORRRR when Mom was mad and Father when she was not, Ted to his legions of friends, Thee to his 2 surviving sisters, Father, Dad, Pop or Poppy to the 4 children and their respective spouses and Gramps to 6 grand and 5 great grandchildren lived a full and rewarding life. He was born in Morristown, New Jersey on January 31, 1922. On September 19th, 1942 he married Annabelle (Bow) Teator. Mom always called herself a “war bride” and the story of his life cannot be told without her. During WWII, Dad was a transport aircraft navigator primarily in the African Theater. He embodied a man of “The Greatest Generation” exemplified by keeping his pilot’s license active and flying as often as he could well into his 70s’.

The Great Depression motivated Dad to be financially successful. As a young man, he was able to be consumed with his career ladder ascension because he had a great wife who was excellent at taking care of all family matters. After the war Dad received his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. For the next 30+ years his career was centered in the manufacturing industry. Even though he had successfully climbed the corporate ladder, like most intelligent and curious people, he grew bored of the same old same old and started his journey into entrepreneurism. He received his Masters of Business from the University of Chicago. He then ventured into buying and selling (mostly for a loss) many companies. His grand idea was to take a struggling company, turn it around and then sell it for a profit. In that bone yard were companies that made coffee urns, kites on Nantucket, lottery machines and a ranger outpost on the Canadian border? Along the way he met and made friends with a host of folks who had similar dreams. Many of them did very well but more importantly, they stayed very true to each other and did not let business muddy the waters of their friendship as success and failure came and went. Eventually Dad did find a manufacturing company that was a perfect fit and with partners and strong management, was able to realize his desire to build something out of nothing.

First because of the Military and then because of business, Mom and Dad lived in many locations across the country but eventually settled between their permanent residence in Lexington, Kentucky and their vacation home in Yachats, Oregon. Mom and Dad were Charter members of the Blue Grass Riding Club which has been given credit for starting the Three Day Eventing industry in Lexington. Dad was a familiar face as a starter of the Cross Country phase at many events including the Rolex at the Kentucky Horse Park. They also loved attending races at the Keeneland Thoroughbred Race Course. As members of the Keeneland Club, they treated friends and family to “days at the races” during the months of April and October for 30 years.

We cannot write about Dad without talking about his love for the game of golf. He played on courses around the world but preferred Pete Dye courses (golfers know what that means). They were suited to his game. Never a low handicapper he was always buying gadgets or different clubs to improve his accuracy or swing or something. He would never miss the Hullabaloo at his favorite course Bob O Link. He would have bright colored knickers and matching caps made just for the occasion.

There will be no formal service for Dad but for more memories and to send condolences, please visit the following website; McEwenPinevilleChapel.com. No flowers please even though there is a link on the webpage.

Because Mom and Dad had been together for so long, upon Mom’s passing the family will hold a small ceremony where their ashes will be spread together in the Pacific Ocean in Yachats. Dad leaves to cherish his memory his wife Annabelle, children Jo Ann Caudill (Craig) Lia Gaty, Ted Gaty IV (Cindy), Jean Creech (Marvin); grand children Sean Carrigan (Michelle), Casey Carrigan, Candy Due (Steve), Sam and Louis Gaty, Katy Gaty, and great Grands Matthew, Anna and Devan Carrigan, and Callie and Molly Due; Sisters Patty dePendleton and Allene Hatch.