Billy McArthur Gay, born March 31, 1942 in Clayton, NC, passed away on November 9, 2024 at the Tennessee State Veterans Home in Humboldt, TN. He was 82 years old. Billy was predeceased by his parents, Alma Byrd Gay and Cameron Hocutt Gay, and by his brother, Harry Gay.

Billy spent his formative years in Southern Pines, NC and graduated from Southern Pines High School. While in high school he was a force to be reckoned with on the football team and enjoyed being part of a barber shop quartet, among other extracurricular activities.

After graduation, Billy hitchhiked to Raleigh his freshman year to attend NC State University, after which he moved to Raleigh.  He completed a BS in Ceramic Engineering, graduating with honors, and a MS in Metallurgy/Materials Engineering. While at NC State, Billy met his future wife, Landis Moffitt. They were married in Raleigh with many friends and family in attendance.   After college graduation, Billy joined the US Army, and he and Landis moved to Connecticut and then New Jersey where he served as an officer, 1st Lieutenant, and an ammunitions specialist. During service he received an Expert Badge with Rifle Bar.

After being honorably discharged from the Army, Billy worked for a short time at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft as an Analytical Engineer and an Associate Research Chemist.  He then moved back to Raleigh, NC, where he worked as the Assistant Director of Research in the engineering department and as a Lab Manager at NC State. He also taught materials engineering courses for many years at NC State before starting his own consulting firm with a colleague from the university.  He also did some doctoral work but discontinued this when his daughters were born.  

He had a noteworthy career which included being awarded several patents; traveling abroad to research peat as an energy source; wandering the bogs of NC and SC for his research; being honored by Governor Jim Hunt with the Governor's Award for Excellence in Research and Development; receiving many awards from the university; being honored by the National Institute of Ceramic Engineers, the Electrochemical Society, the American Society for Testing Materials, and the American Ceramic Society; working with Budweiser to create the correct color for their bottles; being inducted into the Alpha Sigma Mu International Honorary Metallurgical Society; and many other achievements.

Billy was known for his intellect, his ability to navigate anywhere and fix anything, and his love for family. He was a renaissance man who could do just about anything he set his mind to.  He was a very hands-on father who loved to cook pancakes for his family and to have his girls with him in his research lab and for picnics on the NCSU campus.  He and Landis took many camping trips with the girls and traveled often.  They were active members at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church for many years.  Billy was an avid and vocally loud NC State fan, and he rarely missed a Wolfpack football or basketball game. He especially enjoyed attending these games with his brother and nephew.

He suffered a severe stroke in his early sixties and, unfortunately, never fully recovered his prior abilities.  His remaining years were difficult with many health struggles.

In 2016, Billy moved to TN to be closer to his daughter, Tamarin, and her family.  He lived for a short time at Cades Center Assisted Living, where he was well cared for by the staff. He benefitted from the My Ride program and would use this service to go to the public library to indulge his love of reading. The family would also like to acknowledge with thanksgiving Dr. Charles White at the Jackson VA who provided quality care for Billy for many years. We would also like to thank the staff at the Tennessee State Veterans Home who cared faithfully for him since 2020, and who offered him a final salute as he left the facility for the last time.  We also thank the staff of Gentiva Hospice, who also cared well for him and helped greatly with his comfort during these past few years, and Kenitras (Kee) Donald who sat with Billy daily, Monday through Friday, for almost two years. Kee provided much love, kindness, care, and many laughs.  We also thank Don Hubbard, and therapy dog Simon, for visiting Billy regularly and bringing some joy to his challenging days.  

In these last few years of being bedridden, Billy continued to enjoy any and all updates on NC State Wolfpack sporting events, singing Amazing Grace, having the 23rd Psalm read to him, and receiving communion and the prayers of the saints who visited him.  

Billy is survived by his daughters, Tamarin Huelin (Scott), Kristin Davis (Charles), grandsons Jeremy and Cameron Huelin (Allison), sister-in-law Evelyn Gay, niece Robin Cecil (Anthony), nephew Michael Gay, and several cousins, great-nieces and -nephews.

A memorial service in Billy’s honor will be held on Saturday, November 16 at 2 pm at All Saints Anglican Church, 212 McClellan Road, Jackson, TN. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to My Ride West TN or to the Jackson Madison County Public Library. 

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