He was born in St. Louis, Missouri to parents Ewell Gay Junior and Mildred Ellen Ewing Gay. He graduated from Upper Arlington High School in Columbus, Ohio and continued his education at the University of Georgia where he was a member of the Chi Phi fraternity.
After graduation he worked in Atlanta, Georgia for the Fulton National Bank. In 1974 he moved to Saint Simons Island and was quickly known as Papa Pappagallo. The Pappagallo Patch evolved into Maggie’s Boutique and has been an island landmark for the last 44 years.
Ewell was best known for his love of Georgia Football, the Lady Dawg Headquarters of Saint Simons, and the Master of Ceremonies of the Georgia/Florida Game Day bus for over 40 years. His legendary Georgia/Florida T-Shirts were a surprise every year and are known as collector’s items around the south.
He is survived by his partner of 44 years, Miriam Webb; his daughter, Laurie Gay Hill, her husband Joshua Hill, and their three children, Caleb Hill, Rachel Hill, and Hannah Hill of Savannah, Georgia; his sisters Adgate Gay Cole and Merrill Gay Edens of Saint Simons Island, Georgia and their spouses, children and grand children.
Close friends and family will send him off in good old fashioned UGA style on Sunday, April 22nd.
In lieu of flowers donations in honor of Ewell may be made to the The Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia, St. Simons Land Trust, or The University of Georgia.
Granddaddy Moon (Gay and Uncle too) we will forever miss your birthday and anniversary cards that were always either in the mailbox or on our front porch every year on time. We will also miss your fabulous rum cake each Christmas.
GO DAWGS!
