Gary Leonard Way

Gary Leonard Way, 81, of Ridgeland, SC passed away Saturday, April 15, 2023 at home surrounded by his wife, family and friends. He was born February 1, 1942 in Charleston, SC to the late Mr. and Mrs. William J. and Ruth Williams Way.

Mr. Way served our country for twenty (20) years in the U.S. Airforce and retired in 1980 as a Master Sergeant, Rank E7. During his service time Mr. Way served as a general’s aide to Brigadier General James D. Kemp and Lieutenant General Leroy J. Manor. He was a member of Great Swamp Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, cooked many Sunday morning breakfast meals for the church family and happily handed out scripture cards. He was a loving and caring husband, dad, brother, granddaddy (Poppa).

Mr. Way is survived by his wife of 28 years, Alice Vaigneur Way; two daughters, Glynnis (Vernon) Clamp and Lisa (Timmy) Koon; grandchildren, Trey and Lauren Clamp, Kristin Way Horton (Danny), Karla Way Omes, Logan Way (Kailee), and Evan and Rebecca Way; great grandchildren, Raven Clark (Dean), Michael and Gale Horton, David and Emmylou Omes, and Kaeden Way; step-children, James Lynch (Diana), Alicia Holland (Dennis); step grandchildren, Robert Lynch, Mallory Mahaney (Ben), Marissa Lynch, Taylor Daley (Michael), Drake, Darcy and Rhia Burnette, William and Jake Holland; step great grandchildren, Caleb Lynch and Benjamin Mahaney; two sisters, Helen Way Harvey and Jessie Mae Way Crapse; sisters-in-love, Martha Vaigneur, Sarah Sanders, Patricia Malphrus and Katherine Keiffer; brothers-in-love, Byron Vaigneur, Truett Vaigneur and Jerry Vaigneur (Melinda); sisters-in-law, Glenda Crosby Smith and Janet Crosby Horton (Hal); and brothers-in-law, Quillie Crosby (Ellen) and Maurice Crosby (Ellen) and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mr. Way was preceded in death by his son, Brian Gary Way; sisters, Lula W. Floyd, Edna W. Smith, Daisy W. Horne, Martha W. Boyer and Ruth Way; brothers, Jeff Way, Thomas Way and Lloyd Way; sisters-in-love, Margaret H. Vaigneur, Mary Vaigneur Daley and Ada Vaigneur McDowell; brothers-in-love, Oswell Vaigneur, Hugh Daley, Charles Mears, Billy Sanders, Rodney Malphrus and Ellree Keiffer.

A very special thank you to all the nurses, aides and personnel with Amedisys Hospice, Beaufort, SC. They were tremendous support to Mr. Way and his family during his final years on earth.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 20, 2023, from 6 until 8 pm at Vaigneur Funeral Home, 6802 Tillman Road, Ridgeland, SC.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 21, 2023, at 11:00 am at Vaigneur Funeral Home, 6802 Tillman Road, Ridgeland, SC. Interment will follow in Gillisonville Baptist Church Cemetery in Gillisonville, SC.

Memorial Donations may be made to Great Swamp Baptist Church, Operation Christmas Child Fund, 9009 Tarboro Road, Ridgeland, SC 29936, in memory of Gary L. Way.

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