Mr. Ray Branson Gayler, age 95, of Rome, GA, passed away on Sunday, June 18, 2023, at an assisted living facility.

Branson was born in Chattooga County, GA, on November 28, 1927, son of the late Earl Gayler and the late Margie Lucille Kelley Gayler. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Ruth Brewer Gayler, and a sister, Virginia Gayler Koonce Colston. Branson attended Lyerly Schools and graduated from Lyerly High School in May 1944. At the age of 16, he began college at North Georgia College at Dahlonega, leaving home on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Branson graduated from NGC (then a junior college) in December of 1945 and entered the Army in January of 1946. After a short period of basic training, he shipped overseas to Japan, where he served for 18 months in the Army of Occupation, leaving with the rank of Technician Third Grade.

Coming out of the Army in October 1947, he entered the University of Georgia in January 1948, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in July 1949. He married his childhood sweetheart, Margaret Brewer, in 1949 and began working for J.C. Penny’s that same month, then worked for Bell Bros. Shoe Co. (In Rome, Tuscaloosa, Knoxville and back in Rome), Celanese Corp., Berry College, and Tallatoona Community Action Authority, and the City of Rome, in that order.
Over the years, Branson has been a member of Hillside UMC in Knoxville, North Rome UMC and in 1990, helped organize the Chapel Hill UMC in Rome, serving as Chairman of the Board at both North Rome and Chapel Hill.

In 1960, he helped to organize the Civil Defense Auxiliary Police, later Special Police, and served as Chief of these groups for 12 years. The present-day Sheriff’s Reserve and City Police Reserve are both outgrowths of this group. He worked many hundreds of hours with the Sheriff’s Dept., County and City Police Departments over the years (but has been inactive for a number of years).
He began working for the City of Rome as Business License Inspector in 1970, retiring as City Clerk and Secretary to the City Commission in 1990, after 20 years with the city. In 1971, he received a Master of Education from Georgia State University and graduated from the Georgia Police Academy. He served in all offices in the Georgia Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association, as President in 1979. Active in the IIMC (International Institute of Municipal Clerks), he made many friends throughout the U.S., Canda and overseas. He and Margaret hosted many International Students as well as overseas Clerks over the years.

In 1970, he and Margaret’s brother, Thomas, purchased a small farm in Chattooga County, building it up to a substantial holding over the years. In 1976, he received his Private Pilot’s License later becoming co-owner of a Cessna 172 and flew until early 1990’s, when he sold his share of the plane.

He Loved to travel and he and Margaret have visited every state in the U.S., nine Canadian Provinces, many Mexican Provinces, forty foreign countries, and ten different islands. He attended thirty-four annual conferences of the International Institute of City Clerks without missing one.

Survivors include his 2 brothers, Col.(retired) Dale Gayler (Joan), Washington, D.C., and Lt. Col. (retired) Max Gayler (Pat), Covington; his sister, Betty Duke (Ramon), Shannon; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11am on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, in the Chapel at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, with the Rev. Steve Alred officiating. Interment will follow in East View Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 10am until service time on Wednesday at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel.

Pallbearers are to assemble by 10:30am on Wednesday at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, and include: Jack Brewer, Brooks Brewer, Zeb Brewer, Todd Christian, Steve Woodard and Joe Smith.

Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, has charge of funeral arrangements.