Roy George GAY, 74, of Wellsville, NY, passed away on Thursday, March 12, 2026, after a brief illness. Born January 22, 1952, in Rochester, he was the son of George Raymond and Jacqualine Nassar Gay. On July 7, 1973, in Canandaigua, he married Patricia Shannon, who survives.

Surviving besides his wife, Pat, are: a daughter, Samantha MacArthur; grandsons, Brodie (Megan) Wells and Gunner Stuart; a great-grandson Owen Wells; a sister and brother-in-law, Kathy and Mark Hall; a brother, Bob; a sister, Beverly; several nieces and nephews; many close friends and neighbors; and his cat, Anna. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his son, Thomas; and brothers, Joe and Paul.

Roy's early years were spent on dairy farms in Monroe and Ontario counties. He was active in Boy Scouts, Little League, 4-H, and FFA. Like most farm boys, Roy developed an early and strong work ethic, raising and showing his own heifers and milking herd.

Roy was driving farm tractors by the time he was 9, and by age 11 had moved up to driving 10-wheel dump trucks in the cabbage fields. By 14, he was driving that loaded dump truck 10 miles down the road to the processing plant. Those 10 miles launched him on the road to a professional career, and he never looked back. That driving career spanned nearly 6 decades, 48 states, 5 Canadian Provinces, and after 35 years of over-the-road driving, Roy racked up over 3.5 million safe driving miles, a feat of which he was especially.

Roy loved variety in everything, from the equipment he drove, the products he hauled, to the roads he traveled. He worked for numerous companies of all sizes over the years, hauling everything from veneer logs to ammunition to tanker loads of melted milk chocolate. The family was always glad for those loads because cleanout day meant milk chocolate happiness by the pailful. From flatbeds to tankers, superhighways to dirt logging roads, Roy did it all and loved every minute of it.

Roy finished out his OTR career serving 10 years with Barr-Nunn Transportation, where he was a senior driver trainer, mentor, and served on their accident review board.

The OTR years ended due to health issues, but in typical Roy form, he couldn’t stay still for long. He used his vast experience and knowledge to build his own small trucking safety consulting business, helping small companies meet DOT safety regulations and training drivers. He was hired by BOCES to teach Adult Ed Commercial Drivers' Licenses classes. From there, he worked with Schlumberger and other gas field support companies, teaching driver safety training. In 3 short years, more than 1000 drivers from the East Coast moved through his classes and assessment programs. When the fracking boom fell out, Roy brought his driver training program to Alfred State Tech in Wellsville, offering expanded opportunities to students in the heavy equipment and truck and diesel classes. Over the years, he also subbed as an instructor in the truck and diesel shop and as an assistant professor for a year. Alfred State assumed the CDL program but discontinued it due to budget constraints.

Unwilling to face retirement yet, Roy returned to seasonal driving, hauling paving materials to projects around the region, and continued driver training for small companies, then began private hauling of Amish building materials.

Driving was not only a career, but it also provided recreation as well. Roy and Pat could often be found meandering down all the backroads of Allegany and neighboring counties. Exploring all the hills and hidden hollows was a love they shared.

Throughout his whole life, Roy never forgot his farm roots and spent his time off working on his own small farm or trading work with other farm friends. He volunteered for 4-H, hauling kids, horses, and livestock to county and state fairs, and was often found working as a ring crew at horse shows and Pony Club rallies.

Roy was always willing to lend a hand wherever and whenever anyone needed it. He was a member of Willing Hose Company serving as their Fire Police Captain. He was also a member of the Town of Willing Town Council, serving most recently as Deputy Town Supervisor, and was newly re-elected to his 4th term as Councilman. Roy was also on the board of Impact Friends Trail group, helping improve multi-use trails on State Forest lands in Allegany County.

Roy was an avid reader, amassing a huge collection of books by his favorite authors. He often traded books with other drivers and helped network books across the country.

Roy loved and was deeply loved by his family, friends, community, and his students. He loved his chosen field, and his only regret was that he wouldn’t be able to drive to his own memorial.

There will be no services held at this time. A gather to celebrate Roy’s life will be planned for later in the summer. The family asks that no flowers be sent and donations can be made to Willing Volunteer Hose Company and/or the American Cancer Society. Arrangements are under the direction of Olney-Foust & Embser Funeral Homes & Cremation, 34 West State Street, Wellsville, NY. Online condolences may be expressed at www.wellsvillefuneralhome.com.