Barbara Jean Gay

Mrs. Barbara Jean Watts Gay, 84, of Live Oak, Florida passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Barbara was born on August 6, 1941 in Orlando, Florida to the late Robert Eugene Watts, Sr. and Callie Irene Eady Watts. While she lived much of her life within the state of Florida, she also lived and traveled in parts of Europe in her youth along with her military family.

She graduated from Manatee High School in Bradenton and studied cosmetology at the Valdez Hair Design School in Sarasota. At Sharp’s Drugstore in Bradenton, she met the love of her life, Mr. Ronald Lamar Gay and married him on April 23, 1960.

For many years, she owned Jean’s Beauty Shop in Bradenton where she coiffed and curled the hair of many in the community. In addition to fashioning hair, she enjoyed connecting with others by selling Home Interiors. Outside of the beauty shop she enjoyed involvement with her church families at 1st Assembly of God in Bradenton and Palmetto Assembly of God where she ministered to young girls in the Missionettes program. She also used her talents of decorating, sewing, and floral arranging to create beautiful decor for church events.

Barbara and Ronald moved from the city of Bradenton to a small farm outside of Live Oak in 1989. She lived there up to a few months before her death. In her retirement, she sold Avon and later served as a caregiver for her mother and husband. She was actively involved in Mt. Gilead Baptist Church. She truly enjoyed engaging in conversation with others whether family, friends, or complete strangers. She was a classic beauty who demonstrated kindness to so many.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Gay was preceded in death by her loving husband of 56 years, Ronald Lamar Gay and her son-in-law Raymond Wilson. She is survived by her daughter Robin Gay Wilson Rye (James) of Jasper, her son Ronald Lynn Gay (Serina) of Lawrenceville, Georgia, her brothers Robert “Bob” Eugene Watts, Jr. (Rochelle) of San Antonio, Texas and Jerry Gene Watts (Gail) of Renton, Washington, a sister-in-law Barbara Gay Nash Duffy (Ed) of Evans, Georgia and a brother-in-law Randy Gay, many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and several step grandchildren including Jonathan Rye who was her special buddy in the last year of her life.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church in Live Oak on Saturday, May 23rd at 2:00 PM. The Reverend Wilbur Wood, pastor of Mt. Gilead will officiate the service. Members of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church will provide a meal for family and friends after the service.

Harris Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements with interment to be determined at a later date.