Mary Lee Gay

Mrs. Gay passed away December 17, 2018, at her home in the Whitton Community. She was born August 23, 1918, in Canton to William and Bertha Fisher Pierce.

Mary Lee was a hard worker. Through the years, she worked for Lou Foote Airport, General Telephone, True Value Hardware, Sears, Avon and Stanley. She and her husband, Vernon, moved back to Canton from Dallas when he was getting close to retirement. She farmed and raised chickens until she slowed down some and semi-retired about 1998 after Vernon passed away. Mrs. Gay was a member of the First Baptist Church in Canton.

Mrs. Gay is preceded in death by her parents: William and Bertha Pierce; husband of 63 years, Samuel Vernon Gay; brothers: Joe, Leon, Jack and J. W. Pierce; sisters: Ruby Crawford and Christine Pierce; and her grandson, Fleete Cope.

Mary Lee was much loved and is survived by her three children and their spouses: Mary Vernell Cope of Canton, Stella and Don Jackson of Midlothian, and Mickey and Connie Gay of Canton; seven grandchildren: Joanna and Billy Laxton, Robert A. and Karla Cope, Mark and Patricia Jackson, Shannon and Lisa Jackson, Shari Brickman, Christine and Clint Morris, and Shaun and Krystal Gay; great-grandchildren: Charles and Shanna Cope, Samuel Walker and John Laxton, Tonya and Erin Cope, Heather Jackson, Steven and Jennifer Jackson, Nickolas Jackson, Stephen Rollins, Sean and Destinee Rollins, Seth Jackson, Kaylie Brickman Bigham and Kody Bigham, Regan Brickman, Tristan Morris, Colby Gay and Conner Gay; great-great-grandchildren: Mason Cope, Colton Cope, Parker and Hayden Rollins and Charlotte Jackson; sister, Ernestine Pierce (Janes) Taylor of Canton; and many nieces and nephews.

After 100 years on this Earth, she will be celebrating Christmas with her Lord, husband, and other family members that have gone on before her, as she now has a new body in Christ Jesus, free from pain and illness.

Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.