Elijah Monroe Hay, Jr. - a servant of God and lover of people – died July 30, 2023, in Georgetown, Texas. He was 78.
Born July 14, 1945, in Clinton, Missouri, to Elijah Monroe and Sarah May Hay, EM was the youngest of 12 children. He was an uncle at birth and is affectionately called “Uncle Junior” by his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and by eight of his siblings. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ann Hay, his daughter Angela Pettigrew and her husband Rob, his son Eric Hay and his wife Sarah, his grandchildren Mia and Maggie Hay and Katie and Caroline Pettigrew, and his siblings Harry Don Hite, Rose Ann Phillips and Carolyn Hubbs.
With such a large family who all lived in Clinton, his growing up years were filled with family. All the family gathered at the Hay farm on Sundays for meals and outdoor fun. Perhaps that is why for all his years as pastor the fellowship of the local church felt natural to him.
E. M. was a life-long learner and earned degrees from Southwest Baptist College (BA), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv) and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (DMin). Being the first person in his family to attain a doctorate was a high point for him, particularly since his father only had a fourth-grade education. He became an avid reader, filling shelves of his pastor’s study with books relating to theology, leadership, and discipleship - and his home study with biographies of great men.
During his 45 years as a minister, E. M. found success in reaching people for Christ by just being who he was: a caring, generous, approachable, thoughtful, fun- loving man whom God had called at 16 to enter the ministry. He embraced preaching the gospel, but also excelled at involving congregations in service and leadership, discipleship, and decision-making. He loved casting the vision God had given him and seeing it become a reality. During his life, E. M. pastored churches in Lake Ozark, MO, Jacksboro, TX, St. Louis, MO, Plano, TX, Tyler, TX, Independence, MO, and, finally, Sun City where he was senior pastor at The Worship Place from 2009 to 2014.
Throughout his life, E. M. was a great encourager, mentor, and friend to thousands of people. Whether sharing God’s word from the pulpit, building a church staff, counseling others, being a neighbor, being fully present during good and bad moments, telling a story or joke, or calling others just to check in, he sincerely loved, enjoyed, and valued others.
One other hallmark trait of EM was his love for adventure and fun. He enjoyed hiking in the Rockies, fishing trout streams, horseback riding with his brother, photography and golf. He also loved projects around the house. It seemed like home was not home unless there was a stack of bricks or sand or dirt or wood near the driveway.
Of all this, E. M. could be proud, but he was a humble man, who would say that his greatest accomplishment was raising two good kids – and that is true. But only our heavenly father knows the eternal good he did by being a grace-filled gentleman as he stood behind the pulpit, interacted with the congregations of the churches he pastored, and loved his family and friends.
The family wishes to thank the team at Georgetown Living for their loving care during his time there. Friends are invited to celebrate E.M.’s life at a service and reception on Friday, August 18 at 2:00p at The Worship Place, 811 Sun City Blvd., Georgetown, Texas. Friends and family – especially those in Missouri-- are also invited to honor EM at a memorial service on Saturday, September 16 (with visitation at 12 and the service at 1 p.m.) at First Baptist Church, 1531 N. Vansant Road, Clinton, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a tribute donation to the building campaign at The Worship Place via check at 811 Sun City Blvd., Georgetown TX 78633 or by way of their online donation link at twptx.org/giving.
