Oct. 25, 1929 – July 17, 2019

NATCHEZ- Services for Harley D. Loy, 89, of Natchez, who died Wednesday, July 17, 2019, at Merit Health Natchez, will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Community Chapel Church of God in Natchez with the Rev. Bo Swilley officiating.
Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home in Natchez.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.
Mr. Loy was born Oct. 25, 1929, in Hot Springs County, Arkansas, the son of William Rush Loy and Amy Thomason Loy.
Mr. Loy left the small family farm in Arkansas to earn a living working a succession of jobs: textile plant, brick plant, selling magazines and as an x-ray technician in Atlanta. When the x-ray lab closed, he took a job with a Kroger supermarket — then switched to Safeway soon afterwards. During this time, he served with the Air National Guard of Arkansas. Mr. Loy remained with Safeway for nearly 20 years, working his way up to be manager of one of their highest volume stores in Monroe, Louisiana, and served as regional advertising director. In 1969, he had the opportunity to start his own supermarket business, Supermarket Operations Inc., in Natchez and Vidalia, buying the Lewis family supermarkets with a loan and investing all his savings. Hard, lean years followed until his lifetime of hard work paid off as the local stores began gaining sales and establishing the company as a local favorite. This year marks the 50thAnniversary of the company, which consists of seven supermarkets in five cities more commonly known as the Markets.
Loved and revered by his family, Mr. Loy was also highly respected in the community. Always a leader, he served the Miss-Lou many years in Kiwanis, United Way, Gideons, and in his church. He was co-founder of two local congregations: Community Chapel Church of God and Crosspoint Church.
Mr. Loy was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Boyd, James, Wilson, and Bill; and his wife of 52 years, Jane Moore Loy.
Survivors include his wife of 15 years, Edith Freeman Loy; four sons, Del Loy and wife, Renae, and Barry Loy and wife, Sue, all of Natchez, Tim Loy and wife, Janet, of Fletcher, North Carolina, and Jeff Loy and wife, Keri, of Woodworth, Louisiana; one daughter, Rhoda Gatson and husband, Jack, of Evansville, Indiana; one stepson, Larry Dykes of Natchez; two stepdaughters, Kim Stephens and husband, Wade, and Kristy Atkins, all of Natchez;  12 grandchildren, Jeremy Loy and wife, Sarah, of Brookhaven, Amy Samson and husband, Edwin, of Manila, Philippines, David Gatson and wife, Nicole, and Josh Loy and wife, Carol, all of Natchez, Mandy Gatson of Evansville, Indiana, Matt Loy and wife, Lodie, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Phillip Loy of Fletcher, North Carolina, Hayley Burson and husband, Michael, of Charlotte, North Carolina, Ryan Loy of Baton Rouge, Hannah Loy of Charlotte, Kristin Harris and husband, Matthew, of Alexandria Louisiana, and Christopher Loy and wife, Alexandra, of Woodworth; eight step-grandchildren, Whitney Roberts of Hattiesburg, James Dykes, Taylor Anders and husband, Bryan, Walker Allen, Sawyer Allen, Braxton Allen, Ryker Atkins, and Mariella Atkins, all of Natchez;  14 great-grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild; and a number of nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Jeremy Loy, David Gatson, Josh Loy, Ryan Loy, Matt Loy, Phillip Loy and Christopher Loy.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Market’s store managers and supervisors: Ricky Heffner, Burrell Book, Wendel Melton, Gene Moak, David Taylor, Tim Frith, John Hillyard, Ronnie Gamberi, Mike Halley, Chuck Parker, Robert Parker and Mark Nelson.
Memorials for Mr. Loy may be made by supporting local Gideons.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.