Obituaries

Stephen Anthony 'Tony' Gaye

Photo of Stephen Anthony 'Tony' Gaye
Stephen Anthony "Tony" Gaye, 65, the nationally-recognized commercial and fine art photographer, passed away Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012, from natural causes at his residence. The son of a high-level petroleum company engineer whose family lived on five continents, Gaye attended 14 different schools including the renowned American School in both Tripoli, Libya, and Lugano, Switzerland, graduating in 1965; sailed the Atlantic; and put 30,000 North African sand miles on his beloved 1964 Austin Healey, all before he was 20. Subsequently, he served three years in the United States Army including a tour of Viet Nam. Gaye was pre-deceased by his father, Frederick "Fred" Lafayette Gaye, who passed in 2005. He is survived by his mother, Lucia "Lou" Gaye, who continues to live in Rogers, where she and her husband established, owned and operated the venerable Fred's Hickory Inn for 35 years through 2005, prior to selling the famed restaurant that continues in business under the same name and still retains some of Gaye's original work. Gaye is also survived by his sister, Fredda Lou Porter of Bella Vista; three children, Chelsea Pearce Gaye, 32, and Matthew Garrett Gaye, 23, both of Philadelphia, and Zoe Bryce Gaye, 20, also of Philadelphia who now attends the Rochester Institute of Technology; and, a nephew, Joshua Porter, and family of Bella Vista. Memorial services will be held for the extended family in Rogers, at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on Saturday, Jan. 5, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Tony Gaye Memorial Education Fund through any Wells Fargo Bank.

Published January 2, 2013

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