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Submitted: 7/17/19 • Approved: 7/23/19 • Last Updated: 7/26/19 • R1274260-G1274258-S3
Frederick
US Army Air Corps
World War II
July 5, 1918 - June 20, 2005
*Obituary (news item)
The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Local Restaurateur Dies At Age 86
GAYE STARTED HICKORY INN WITH WIFE IN 1970
BENTONVILLE — Local restaurateur Fred Gaye died Monday at age 86 after serving up ribs, handcut steaks and cheesecake — and an assortment of jokes — at Fred's Hickory Inn in Bentonville for 35 years.
Gaye founded the restaurant with his wife, Lou, in November 1970 and was the consummate host, customers said.
"He and Lou took it to a different level," said U.S. District Judge Jimm Larry Hendren, who eats at the restaurant most Monday nights with his wife, Janet.
"He went around the tables and visited, and treated you as a friend, not just a customer," Hendren remembered. "He was alive, affable, with a big smile and twinkles in his eyes. And the smartest thing he ever did was marry Lou, a magnificent woman."
The Gayes were married 65 years and settled in Northwest Arkansas in the late 1960's.
A former petroleum engineer, Gaye and his wife worked and traveled across the world and loved to entertain, said restaurant manager Terri Niccum.
Gaye worked for Cooper Homes before he and Lou gave the restaurant business a try. Fred's Hickory Inn opened in November 1970 using some of Fred's recipes — for a dry rub and barbecue sauce — and spaghetti and meatballs recipes from Lou's family.
Those recipes remain untouched, Niccum said.
At the restaurant's 30th anniversary, "George Billingsley told Fred it was a good thing he was so good at running a restaurant, because he wasn't very good at selling lots," Niccum said.
Fred's was featured on the television show "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" as the favorite restaurant of Sam Walton — and Bud Walton dined there each Friday night, Niccum said.
"Fred was proud of the fact that the restaurant grew by word of mouth. When you came in here everyone knew your name, and there's always been a down-home family feeling," said Niccum, who's worked there 15 years.
Gaye was active in the community and at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Rogers. He fell ill four years ago, and later moved to a local health care facility.
Many will remember Gaye smoking a big cigar, circling the restaurant telling jokes to the golfers and businessman, Niccum said.
A funeral service for Gaye will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, with Father Allen Bates officiating. Gaye will be interred in Rogers Cemetery at the Serenity Mausoleum.
*Obituary
The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
ROGERS — Fred Gaye, 86, of Rogers died June 20, 2005. He was born July 5, 1918, in Kingdom Springs to Enoch and Grace Andrews Gaye. He grew up in Oklahoma and graduated from Okmulgee (Okla.) High School and later from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in petroleum engineering and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. He was responsible for bringing the first oil field into production in Iran in 1955 and throughout his petroleum engineering career worked in Peru, Costa Rica and the Canary Islands. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II and was a cadet pilot. His interests included golf and fishing. He was a 32nd-degree Mason. He was a member of the vestry and a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Rogers. In 1970, he and his wife opened and operated Fred's Hickory Inn in Bentonville for 35 years.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Lou Gaye of the home; one son, Tony Gaye of Philadelphia, Pa.; one daughter, Fredda Porter and husband Mack of Rogers; his twin sister, Faye Pratz of Ada, Okla.; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Rogers with the Rev. Allen Bates officiating. Entombment will follow at Serenity Mausoleum at Rogers Cemetery.
Memorials may be made in his honor to the Memorial Fund of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 339, Rogers, 72757-0339 or the Rogers Humane Society, 407 E. Nursery Road, Rogers, 72756.
Lucia "Lou"
February 26, 1915 - March 16, 2016
*Obituary
Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Sunday, March 27, 2016
BELLA VISTA — Lucille JoAnn "Lou" Gaye, 101, of Bella Vista, Ark., passed away, Wednesday, March 16, 2016, at Circle of Life in Bentonville, Ark. She was born Feb. 26, 1915, in Bridgeport, Conn. to Pete and Mary Palacino Pulvirenti.
In 1969, after traveling and living in many countries around the world, she and her husband, Fredrick Gaye, settled in Bentonville where they established and operated what has become a cherished local landmark, Fred's Hickory Inn, for over 45 years. She had recently celebrated her 101st birthday there.
She was a kind, gentle spirit, and unconditionally accepting of others.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Fred Gaye in 2005; son, Tony Gaye in 2012; three brothers; and two sisters.
Lou is survived by one daughter, Fredda Porter of Bella Vista; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many dear friends.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 2, 2016 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Rogers with the Rev. Craig Gavin and the the Rev. Allen Bates officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to your local animal shelter.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services of Rogers. Memories may be shared at stockdalefuneral.com.
Contributed on 7/17/19 by wfields55
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Record #: 1274260