VASSALBORO – Harvard “Hardy” E. Gay, Sr. of Vassalboro, 90, born in Brooks, April 19, 1933, the son of Guy and Ellen (Maddocks) Gay, passed away peacefully on Feb. 2, 2024 surrounded by family.

Hardy grew up in Weeks Mills, attended China school and Erskine Academy in South China before being drafted into the United States Army. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Maine to begin a career in the automotive industry. He worked in the public sector many years before being recruited to the Bureau of Public Safety where he spent 23 years making lifelong friends and taking pride in ensuring that members of the State Police had a safe ride. He retired in June 1990.

Hardy enjoyed motorcycling, snowmobiling, camping, and going on road trips throughout the country, even making the trek to Alaska. He especially enjoyed puttering around his yard on his Kubota tractor. Hardy was a jack-of-all trades and a man of many talents, something he no doubt learned from his father. If he did not know how to do something, he pondered it and figured it out. If he didn’t have a tool he needed, he made one himself. One of his proudest accomplishments was designing and building an energy efficient earth-bermed home.

Hardy was predeceased by his parents, Guy and Ellen; sister, Guylene Freeman, and brothers Gerald, Darrell, Neil and Dennis Gay. He was also predeceased by two of his children, Melody and Edward Gay; and granddaughter-in-law Anita Newell.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Christine Gay; son, Harvard, Jr. of Rumford, daughter, Melinda Simon and her husband Peter of West Gardiner; brother, Roland and wife Hilda of Weeks Mills, sisters-in-law Jeannette and Kay Gay, and brother-in-law Clarence Freeman of North Monmouth. He is also survived by grandchildren Ryan and Dustin Gay, Nicole Simon and husband Patrick, Matthew Simon and wife Nicole, and Jeffrey Newell; also by great-grandchildren Emilyn Simon and Jacob and Sophia Gay; several nieces and nephews; and longtime friend and neighbor, Dick Ociepka, who spent his afternoons visiting and chatting with Hardy, something Hardy very much looked forward to every day.

The family would like to thank Togus VA, special care provider and friend, Jean, Augusta Health and Rehabilitation, and Beacon Hospice for their compassionate care during Hardy’s last two months of life, and all the family, friends, and neighbors, who out of their love of Hardy and kindness in their hearts, popped in to visit, adding to his quality of life.

There will be a graveside service in the spring at the Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery where Hardy will be laid to rest alongside his beloved daughter, Melody.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Mid-Maine Cremation Services, Waterville.