Gay Reeves Kennerly

Local businessman Gay Kennerly, 91, of 50 Gilbert Road, Leicester, died Tuesday, August 1, 2006, at Memorial Mission Hospital. Mr. Kennerly was born in Buncombe County and was the son of the late Samuel L. and Ollie Bridges Kennerly. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Evelyn Robinson and Beulah Broyles and two brothers, Ray and Carl Kennerly. Mr. Kennerly graduated from Leicester High School in 1930, at the age of 15, and worked at American Enka Corp. for 13 years. He went into the oil business in 1947, eventually becoming the owner and president of Kennerly Oil Co. of Asheville until his retirement in 1995. He was a member of the Oil Jobbers Association and the Leicester Grange. Mr. Kennerly was instrumental in the founding of the Leicester Volunteer Fire Department and the Leicester Community Center. He was a lifelong member of Bell United Methodist Church and served in practically all capacities, including member of the Board, the Cemetery Committee, choir member, and president of his Sunday School Class. He is survived by his beloved wife of 71 years, Robina R. Kennerly; one daughter, Gaylen Saunders and her husband, John, of Leicester; two grandchildren, Dr. John T . Saunders, III, and his wife, Deidre, of Steamboat Springs, CO, and Suzanne Buchanan and her husband, Eric, of New Orleans, LA; three great-grandchildren, Katie, Kari and Kyle Saunders of Steamboat Springs; three sisters, Sue Howell and Margaret Patton of Asheville, and Ruth Robinson of Leicester, and a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday at Bell United Methodist Church with the Revs. Enoch Ball, Jr. and George M. Davis officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. His nephews will serve as pallbearers. His family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall immediately following the interment. Flowers will be accepted and appreciated, or memorials may be made to Bell United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, PO Box 581, Leicester, NC 28748.