NATCHEZ — Services for Norman Clayton Gay, 67, of Natchez, who died Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, at his residence, will be 2 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church of Natchez with the Rev. Dr. Doug Broome officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time Thursday at the church.

Clayton was born Nov. 20, 1952, in Greenville.  He attended Cathedral School and Saint Stanislaus in his youth and served in the U.S. Army National Guard, thereafter, before returning to Natchez where he was married and raised his two sons.  Clayton founded their family business, Allstar Recovery, which he took a great deal of pride in and is still run today by his sons.  He valued being able to employ others and always maintained a generous spirit to his employees.  He loved the Mississippi River, caring for his three dogs, and enjoyed all forms of mechanics throughout his life.  In retirement, he enjoyed building automated bicycles as a hobby. His undaunted charisma will be missed.

He was proceeded in death by his wife, Althea Stietenroth Gay; parents, Emma Nell and Proteus Julian ‘PJ’ Gay; and four siblings, Edward, Proteus Jr., David Dean and Mary Ann Gay.

Clayton is survived by two sons, Clayton Shannon Gay and wife, Anna Kelley Gay, and Sterling Proteus Gay and wife, Shay Netterville Gay; three grandchildren, Grayson Douglas Gay, Sterling Garner Gay and Ava Kate Walker of Natchez; three siblings, Tim Gay and former sister-in-law, Janet Knight and Susan Gay Davis of Natchez, and Julie Gay Middleton Guenther and brother-in-law, Fred Neil Guenther of Ridgeland; and 10 nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, any donations may be made to the Adams County Children’s Home.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.