James “Bob” H. Bay, age 84, passed away peacefully on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 16, 2020 at his home in Helmsburg, He was a lifelong resident of Brown County.
Bob was born April 8, 1936, in Brown County, to the late Marvin and Josephine (Hatchett) Bay. He attended Helmsburg High School and worked in construction and carpentry for over 60 years. He was the owner/operator of Bob Bay & Son Construction.
Bob was a member of the Bean Blossom Baptist Church in Brown County. He enjoyed gardening, watching westerns and working on older trucks and cars. Bob could fix almost anything and enjoyed building toy boxes and windmills for his grandchildren. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family.
Bob will be missed by his children: Roger (Lain) Bay of Bloomington, Susie (Bob) Maggard of Helmsburg, James “Jimmy (Peggy) Bay of Ellettsville, siblings: Connie Hubbard of Peoga, Delores (Bob) Wilson of Kokomo, Diane (Guy) Fish of Nashville; grandchildren: Matt (Jill) Bay, Donny (Shannon) Bay, Brett Bay, Nicole (Jacob) Sebowski, Abigail (Haven) Howard, Candi (Chris) Meyer, Jake (Sara) Maggard, Brad (Emily) Bay, Becky Bay, Shawn (Mandy) Bay, Sheila Birk and Anthony (DJ) Birk; 25 great grandchildren with one on the way.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, the mother of his children: Barbara Richards, whom he married on Dec. 2, 1955; siblings: Rosemary Sisson, Rex Bay, Earl Bay, Wendall Bay, Edith Glidden, baby brother: Donald and infant twins Linda & Carol Bay; and grandchildren: Rob Birk and Christmas Birk.
The Rev. James Brown will conduct a funeral service at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the Bean Blossom Baptist Church 5858 Spearsville Road in Brown County. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday at Meredith-Clark Funeral Home: 179 East Mulberry Street in Morgantown. Burial will be at Myers Cemetery in Brown County.
Memorial contributions may be sent in honor of Bob to the American Cancer Society; 5635 West 96th Street Ste 100, Indianapolis, IN 46278 or to the IU Hospice 619 West 1st Street, Bloomington, IN 47403
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.meredith-clark.com.
