Ronald Gene Shay

STOKESDALE RONALD GENE SHAY, 72, PASSED AWAY ON Friday, July 10, 2015, at the Hospice Home in Wentworth.A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 14, at Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery.A native of Evansville, Indiana, Gene was born on May 2, 1943, the son of the late Jesse and Mildred Grieve Shay. Gene was a jack-of-all trades, could do anything he set his mind to, but he especially enjoyed the years he spent as a long-haul driver because it meant time spent with his late wife, Mary Pegram Shay. He loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter, gun collector and fisherman. He was a member of the North American Fishing Club.In addition to his wife and parents, he was also preceded in death by a nephew, William Joseph Shay. Surviving are his daughter April Shay (Jonathan Johnson) of Greensboro; step-children William Murphy, Vicki Balkey, and Karen Goolsby; brother Gary Lee Shay and sister-in-law Deborah Lackey Shay both of Rockville, Indiana; nephew Gary Lee Shay, II; 8 grandchildren Jennifer Goolsby, Michael Murphy, Brittany Murphy, Dakota Murphy, Brandon Goolsby, T. J. Goolsby, Justin Overby, and James Balkey; great granddaughter Khloe Balkey; and special friend Ann Tilley.The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. at Forbis & Dick Brooke Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Home of Rockingham County, PO Box 281, Wentworth, NC 27375.On-line condolences may be offered at www.forbisanddick.com.