Obituary of Vernon Lee Fay

Vernon "Pete" Lee Fay, loving father, proud grandfather, and loyal friend, passed away peacefully on September 28, 2022 at Select Specialty Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. He had recently celebrated his 77th birthday with family. Born on August 4, 1945 in Wheeling, West Virginia, Pete was the fourth of six children to Ava Catherine (Davis) and Victor Curtis Fay. Raised in southeast Indiana, Pete was an accomplished athlete at Lawrenceburg High School. He set records in track, excelled in basketball, and threw a mean knuckleball. Pete married his high school sweetheart, Linda Lue (Acra), in 1965 and they started raising their son, Mark Vernon Fay, Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and later, Cincinnati, Ohio. Pete married his second wife, Linda Marie (Halbrook) in 1978 in Cincinnati, and then moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where they raised Pete's son, Mark and Linda's daughter, Jennifer Ann (Halbrook) together. Pete worked as a maintenance supervisor for large rental property complexes and later retired from Target Stores as a maintenance manager. He had a strong work ethic, always worked with his hands, and could fix just about anything. He spent retirement creating a tropical oasis out of his secluded property, firing up his grill and enjoying a good glass of bourbon on the deck of his Florida home with his beloved partner of over thirty years, Donna Gayle Bynum. In addition to Donna, Pete is survived by his brothers, Victor Curtis Fay Jr. and Arthur Carl Fay; son, Mark Vernon Fay; daughter-in-law, Jennifer Christine (Croce) Fay; grandson, Luke Vernon Fay; granddaughter, Elisa Christine Fay; step-daughter from his second marriage, Jennifer Ann (Halbrook) Spraggins, whom he loved as his own, as well as her husband, James Paul Spraggins and their children, Hailey Ann, Craig James, and Kailyn Marie Spraggins. He was preceded in death by his parents; first and second wives; sisters, Delores Ann Fay and Linda Jacqueline Fay; and his youngest brother, David Wayne Fay. Pete had a happy-go-luck disposition, an enduringly positive outlook, and loved nothing more than to spend time with his family and friends. We will miss the joy and inevitable laughter that came with being in the same room-or on the same deck-as Pete. A Memorial service for Pete will be held at the Fitch-Denney Funeral Home in Lawrenceburg, Indiana on Friday, October 21, 2022 at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Pete's name can be made to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements entrusted to Family-Funeral & Cremation of Mary Esther, Florida (850)226-4240.