Wallace Wesley "Wes" Gage, 82, died Sunday, January 15, 2017 at the Spring City Care and Rehabilitation Center.

Born in Snyder Township, Pennsylvania, Wes was the son of the late Harold Edgar and Esther Carlson Gage.  Wes, often called "WW" or known as Sonny by his family and close friends was a Navy Veteran.  He served during the Korean War, receiving the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendations Medal, and the Navy Good Conduct Medal.  After the Navy, he spent 12 years with Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania; then moved his family to Florida where he owned and operated a fruit farm.  He was known as a "Jack Of All Trades", being proficient in electrical, plumbing, automotive, carpentry and construction, water well drilling, etc.,  If it needed building, he built it; if it needed fixing, he fixed it; if it needed doing, he did it.

Eventually, he returned to the "sea", working as a marine engineer with Interlake Steamship Company on the Great Lakes, and later as a chief engineer for Energy Transport Services, Inc. working on tugboats on the Mississippi River.

As the onset and progression of multiple sclerosis reduced Wes' ability to perform "physical" activities, his creativity manifested itself in poetry writing.

Wes enjoyed gardening, raising livestock, telling stories, discussing polities, laughing, writing poetry, watching episodes of Gun Smoke, working hard, never quitting until the job was done, and his scruffy little black dog, "Theodore Bear".

In 1992, Wes relocated to Spring City Care Center, and it is believed he may well have had the longest residency there to date.  During his years in Spring City, he developed an obvious love for the Lord, and would rarely miss an opportunity to participate in the "Tuesday Gospel Singing" activity.  The family wishes to thank the many facility staff members and volunteers who cared for Wes through these many years.

Like all of us, Wes felt some regrets over certain events in his life.  The last one he expressed:  "We should have gone to church together more as a family".  He would want you to learn from his mistakes.

Wes was preceded in death by his son George W. Gage, sisters Betty Kohler, Carolyn McCormick, Phyllis Bess and Nancy Reynolds and brother David Clyne.

Survivors include his daughters Valerie (Vince) Gage Burzese of Spring City and Yvonne (Roger) McKee of Dallas, Texas, brother James Clyne of New Egypt, New Jersey, sisters Violet Wagner of Bradford, Pennsylvania and Ruth Ellen "Dee" Smith of Douglasville, Pennsylvania, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Funeral services with military honors will be held Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 3:00 pm in the chapel of Vaughn Funeral Home with Rev. Stephen Zimmerman officiating.  Interment will be in the Spring City Cemetery.  The family will receive friends Thursday from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the funeral home.

Special thanks to his Grandview Church family for their prayers over the years.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to The National Multiple Sclerosis Society or Grandview Christian Fellowship Church, 140 Doc Loy Road, Grandview, Tennessee  37337.

Vaughn Funeral Home, Spring City is in charge of arrangements.  Please share your condolences and memories of Wes on our website www.vaughn-funeral-home.com