Billy Earl Gandy, of Raleigh, MS, passed away at his residence in Raleigh on May 5, 2024, after a brief illness. He was born January 24, 1948, at the Coursey Clinic in Raleigh, Mississippi.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 14, 2024, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm with a Celebration of Life at 1:00 pm at the Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Bay Springs, MS. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Bro. David Hays will be officiating the Celebration of Life.

Billy Earl graduated from Raleigh High School in 1966 and joined the United States Air Force in 1967. He proudly served for 20 years, including a year in Vietnam. Upon his retirement from the Air Force, Billy Earl started working at Howard Industries in Laurel, MS, where he worked until his second retirement in 2015. Billy Earl's greatest joy was his family followed by any kind of mechanical work. He loved taking things apart and figuring out how they worked. The saying in his shop is certainly appropriate, "If Daddy can't fix it, it ain't fixable."

Billy was preceded in death by his father, John Earl Gandy, his mother, Billie Frances Bryant, his stepfather, Kent Bryant, his son, John Gandy, and his daughter-in-law, Allison Stuart Gandy.

Billy Earl is survived by his wife of nearly 57 years, Reta Gandy (Scott); his daughter, Stephanie Gandy; his daughter-in-law, Angela Gandy (Kelly); his granddaughters, Paula Powell (DJ) and Abby Sanderford (Justin); and great-grandchildren, Delaney and David Jace Powell, and Carter, Bailey, and Brooklyn Sanderford. In addition, Billy Earl has a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, and nieces who are equally devastated by his passing.

Honorary pallbearers include Billy Earl's lifelong friend, David Bryant, and his nephews, Jeremy Gandy, Matthew Culliver, and Patrick McGrew.

To view and sign online guestbook, visit www.colonialchapelbaysprings.com