Joe A Gayle

PERRY- Joe Atkerson Gayle, Sr., 94, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 1, 2014, at his home. A Memorial Service with military honors will be held on Sunday, August 3, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. at Perry United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends on Sunday, August 3, 2014, from 2:00 until 3:00 p.m., the hour preceding the service. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project, 3343 Peachtree Road, NE #M20, Atlanta, GA 30326, or Southern Care Hospice, 5233 Riverside Drive, Suite E, Macon, Georgia 31210. Mr. Gayle was born in Lake Providence, Louisiana, to the late H. K. "Hub" and Jenny Hall Gayle. He received a Bachelor and a Master's Degree from the University of Kentucky. While there, he received the Sullivan Medallion Award for Outstanding Student and received the Marine appointment. As a Marine, he proudly served our country during World War II and was honored with a Purple Heart and a Silver Star. He began his duty as a captain and finished his time with the Marines as a Major. Mr. Gayle moved to Malatchie Farms in 1953 and to Perry in 1961. He worked as a Professional Farm Management Consultant and owned Gayle Livestock Service. He was a former member of the Georgia Beef Board where he served as Chairman, was member of the Georgia Cattleman's Association, where he was a former President, Director, and Treasurer, and was inducted into the Cattleman's Association Hall of Fame, and was a member and former President of the Perry Kiwanis Club. Mr. Gayle was a member of Perry United Methodist Church, where he was a former Sunday School teacher, member of the Men's Bible Class, and a member of the Susannah Wesley Sunday School Class. He enjoyed antiquing through the years, and, later in life, owned and operated Antiques From the Shed. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Connette Gayle; his brothers, H. K. Gayle, Jr., William Gayle, and Coburn Gayle; and his sister, Jenny Richardson. Left to cherish the memories of "Pop" are his children, Joe Gayle, Jr. (Sylvia) of Atlanta, Currey Gayle (Pat) of Marietta, Debbie Davis (Isaac) of Perry, and Dr. Dick Gayle (Melissa) of Augusta; his grandchildren, Joe Gayle, III (Kim), Ted Gayle (Elizabeth), Jennie Douglas (Michael), Rob Gayle (Kasey), Heather Birchfield (Mike), Chuck Davis (Jamie), Christine Anderson (Frank), and Connette Blake (Nick); 14 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Pop's caregiver of 6 years, Debra "Dee" McKenzie, for the service, devotion, and love she always showed him. Friends are invited to leave condolences for the family in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

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Joe A Gayle

July 3, 1920 - August 1, 2014