Rev. Gary Otis Tye -age 75 of Speedwell, Tennessee went home to be with his Lord and Savior on November 24th at Oak Ridge Medical Center at 2:30am after a difficult battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and cancer. He was born on July 30, 1949, in Wofford KY to the late Fred and Jessie Tye. Gary was one of 13 children, eight of which preceded him in death; his brothers: Charlie (wife Janice- deceased), Bob, Freddie (wife Rosie- living), and Larry Tye and sisters; Bev (husband Woodrow-deceased) Griffin, Maxine (Husband Denver-deceased) Robinson, Faye (husband Jim-deceased) Tindle, Brenda (husband Don-deceased) Ellison.

He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Terri Hopper Tye, and a devoted daughter, Jessica Tye Cooke and her husband Matthew and his six grandchildren: Nathanael, Audrey, Madison, Ava, Isaac, and Marley Cooke of Maynardville Tennessee. He also leaves behind four of his 13 siblings, Barbara Sue and Johnny Brown, Patricia Nell Bennett, Gayle and Joe Wilder, and Debbie Tye, all of Williamsburg and many nieces and nephews, friends, and family.

Gary was baptized at Wofford Baptist Church at 13 years old. He spent 30 years of his life as a highly skilled and productive commercial contractor and was awarded the esteemed rank of Kentucky Colonel by the governor of Kentucky. Despite these great accomplishments, his passion was the Gospel Ministry. In the early 1990s Gary started a Christian Radio program called My Lord has the Answers which is still on the air today and has since spent a total of 29 years serving as a pastor, 23 of which were at Irwin’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Sharps Chapel, Tennessee. Once his body and mind were too weak to continue in his role as pastor Gary found a loving church home at New Salem Baptist Church where Gary continued as a faithful member and served as he was able. Gary will be greatly missed, and his impact on the community and the world will be lasting. We are so glad that it is goodbye for now not goodbye forever because of what Christ has done. Prayers for his family and friends are appreciated.

Friends may visit New Salem Baptist Church on Tuesday November 26th from 5 P.M. until 7 P.M. with the funeral service to immediately follow the time of visitation. Pastor Johnny Parker of New Salem Baptist Church, and Gary’s son-in-law Reverend Matthew Cooke will be officiating. Local arrangements by Cooke-Campbell Mortuary, Maynardville.