The following obituary provided by a Findagrave member was published in the Anchorage Daily News on July 23, 1998:
Pioneer Alaska bush pilot Ward Gay died peacefully July 13, 1998, at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. He was 86. A private family celebration of life was held Saturday at the Sequim Valley Funeral Home. Mr. Gay was born Sept. 4, 1911, in Oklahoma City. He came to Alaska in 1935 with a dime in his pocket. He fished commercially in Bristol Bay using cannery boats equipped with a pair of oars and canvas sail. He also worked with hunting parties, trapped furs and became an airplane mechanic, saving his wages for flying lessons. In 1939, he earned his guide license and pilot certificate. In 1944, he started his aviation business, SeaAirmotive Inc., on Lake Hood. His family wrote: Ward Gay was an avid outdoor sportsman and family man. He touched a lot of people with his kindness and thoughtfulness. In 1951, he was awarded the Carnegie Medal of Honor for his heroism in rescuing a downed U.S. Air Force pilot from his burning fighter plane. Mr. Gay was a member of the Alaska Pioneers, Shriners, Masons, BPOE Elks, QB's, OX 5s, Mayflower Society and Sons of the American Revolution. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Hana; son, Kirk of Anchorage; daughters, Feryl of Ashville, N.C., and Kristine of Tacoma, Wash.; brothers, Alfred and Robert of Tucson, Ariz.; sisters, Dorothy of Jackson Hole, Wyo., Jewel of Walnut Creek, Calif.; and Joanne of Austin, Texas; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Pioneer Alaska bush pilot Ward Gay died peacefully July 13, 1998, at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. He was 86. A private family celebration of life was held Saturday at the Sequim Valley Funeral Home. Mr. Gay was born Sept. 4, 1911, in Oklahoma City. He came to Alaska in 1935 with a dime in his pocket. He fished commercially in Bristol Bay using cannery boats equipped with a pair of oars and canvas sail. He also worked with hunting parties, trapped furs and became an airplane mechanic, saving his wages for flying lessons. In 1939, he earned his guide license and pilot certificate. In 1944, he started his aviation business, SeaAirmotive Inc., on Lake Hood. His family wrote: Ward Gay was an avid outdoor sportsman and family man. He touched a lot of people with his kindness and thoughtfulness. In 1951, he was awarded the Carnegie Medal of Honor for his heroism in rescuing a downed U.S. Air Force pilot from his burning fighter plane. Mr. Gay was a member of the Alaska Pioneers, Shriners, Masons, BPOE Elks, QB's, OX 5s, Mayflower Society and Sons of the American Revolution. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Hana; son, Kirk of Anchorage; daughters, Feryl of Ashville, N.C., and Kristine of Tacoma, Wash.; brothers, Alfred and Robert of Tucson, Ariz.; sisters, Dorothy of Jackson Hole, Wyo., Jewel of Walnut Creek, Calif.; and Joanne of Austin, Texas; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The following obituary provided by a Findagrave member was published in the Anchorage Daily News on July 23, 1998:
Pioneer Alaska bush pilot Ward Gay died peacefully July 13, 1998, at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. He was 86. A private family celebration of life was held Saturday at the Sequim Valley Funeral Home. Mr. Gay was born Sept. 4, 1911, in Oklahoma City. He came to Alaska in 1935 with a dime in his pocket. He fished commercially in Bristol Bay using cannery boats equipped with a pair of oars and canvas sail. He also worked with hunting parties, trapped furs and became an airplane mechanic, saving his wages for flying lessons. In 1939, he earned his guide license and pilot certificate. In 1944, he started his aviation business, SeaAirmotive Inc., on Lake Hood. His family wrote: Ward Gay was an avid outdoor sportsman and family man. He touched a lot of people with his kindness and thoughtfulness. In 1951, he was awarded the Carnegie Medal of Honor for his heroism in rescuing a downed U.S. Air Force pilot from his burning fighter plane. Mr. Gay was a member of the Alaska Pioneers, Shriners, Masons, BPOE Elks, QB's, OX 5s, Mayflower Society and Sons of the American Revolution. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Hana; son, Kirk of Anchorage; daughters, Feryl of Ashville, N.C., and Kristine of Tacoma, Wash.; brothers, Alfred and Robert of Tucson, Ariz.; sisters, Dorothy of Jackson Hole, Wyo., Jewel of Walnut Creek, Calif.; and Joanne of Austin, Texas; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Pioneer Alaska bush pilot Ward Gay died peacefully July 13, 1998, at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. He was 86. A private family celebration of life was held Saturday at the Sequim Valley Funeral Home. Mr. Gay was born Sept. 4, 1911, in Oklahoma City. He came to Alaska in 1935 with a dime in his pocket. He fished commercially in Bristol Bay using cannery boats equipped with a pair of oars and canvas sail. He also worked with hunting parties, trapped furs and became an airplane mechanic, saving his wages for flying lessons. In 1939, he earned his guide license and pilot certificate. In 1944, he started his aviation business, SeaAirmotive Inc., on Lake Hood. His family wrote: Ward Gay was an avid outdoor sportsman and family man. He touched a lot of people with his kindness and thoughtfulness. In 1951, he was awarded the Carnegie Medal of Honor for his heroism in rescuing a downed U.S. Air Force pilot from his burning fighter plane. Mr. Gay was a member of the Alaska Pioneers, Shriners, Masons, BPOE Elks, QB's, OX 5s, Mayflower Society and Sons of the American Revolution. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Hana; son, Kirk of Anchorage; daughters, Feryl of Ashville, N.C., and Kristine of Tacoma, Wash.; brothers, Alfred and Robert of Tucson, Ariz.; sisters, Dorothy of Jackson Hole, Wyo., Jewel of Walnut Creek, Calif.; and Joanne of Austin, Texas; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
