Joseph Joe William Gay

Rosary will be at 6:30 P.M., Thursday, September 8, 2011 at Bratcher Funeral Home. The family will receive friends and family following the rosary.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 A. M., Friday, September 9, 2011 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 314 N. Rusk Ave., Denison, TX 75020, with Rev. Stephen Mocio officiating. Members of the Knights of Columbus Council #830 will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Werner Frietsch, Phil McKenzie and Ralph Jones.

Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery, 1501 State Hwy. 91 North, Denison, TX 75020.

Joe was born in Denison, TX on July 24, 1923, the son of Peter A. Gay and Mae M. Murphy Gay. He graduated from St. Xavier’s Academy in Denison in 1940; started work with his father in a grocery store; delivered newspapers; began work for Citizen’s National Bank in Denison in 1940 as a messenger, served in all positions and advanced until elected President and Chief Executive Officer in 1974, where he served until 1981; he served in World War II in the Army as a private and sergeant from 1942 until 1946, where he served the majority of his time in the Pacific Theater; he received decorations, citations and an honorable discharge from the service.

He married Peggy Lou Hess in Denison on April 16, 1950. He joined American Bank in Denison in 1982 as Senior Vice President and in 1984 was elected vice chairman of the board and served until 1989 when he retired. He had a very active civil service career and served as Mayor of Denison for three terms and the Denison City Council for two terms; served two terms as the president of the Denison Chamber of Commerce and was a former member of the Civil Service Commission and Planning & Zoning Commission for the City of Denison; also served as chairman and member of numerous committees, including the United Way; was a past member of the Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Board of Trustees of Texoma Medical Center and one of the organizers and first president of Toastmasters Club; served 6 years on the Denison Library Board and served as president for one term; was also a member of American Legion, VFW, Disabled American Vets and former Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, as well as past president of Grayson and Denison Retail Merchants Association; was a life-long member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and served on several church committees and positions.

He is survived by his wife Peggy of Denison; daughter Susan Handeland & husband Gene of Pottsboro; son William (Bill) Gay & wife Cindy of McKinney; sister Mary Derichsweiler of Anadarko, OK; grandsons Nicholas Marsico & Gregory Marsico; step-grandson Mitch Handeland; step-granddaughter Michelle Perry; several great step-grandchildren; numerous nieces & nephews.

The family would like to recognize Christel Malone & Tracey Colvin for their caregiving services over the past several years.

Arrangements are entrusted to Bratcher Funeral Home, 401 W. Woodard Street, Denison, Texas 75020 (903) 465-2323. Further information is on our website at www.bratcherfuneralhome.com