Obituary of Frederick R. Stay

Frederick “Fred” R. Stay, 98, of Melbourne Beach, Florida, died peacefully Sunday, March 7, 2021, at the William Childs Hospice House in Palm Bay, FL. He was married to his wife Joy (Beecroft) Stay for 67 years until her death in March 2016. Fred was born in Schenectady, NY, January 30, 1923, the son of the late Frederick and Winifred (Isaac) Stay. Prior to moving to Florida in November of 2014 to live with son Jeff and daughter-in-law Liz, Fred was a lifelong resident of Schaghticoke, NY.

Fred served in the US Marine Corps during WWII from Nov 1942 until Feb 1946 as a tail gunner on a B-25 bomber in the northern Solomon Islands. He was awarded several medals for his service, including the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, six Air Medals, and two Distinguished Flying Crosses. After his service in the Marines, Fred worked for the Watervliet Arsenal where he retired in 1978 after 27 years.

Fred and his wife organized and helped manage a Jr. Drum and Bugle Corps called the Mavericks when their kids were young, traveling on the weekends to many of the city parades and drum corps competitions. Fred also managed and traveled with his oldest son Squeeky’s rock band called “the Essentials” for several years. He had a passion for fishing and hunting, especially with his kids and grandkids.

Fred is survived by sons Jeff (Liz) Stay and John Stay; eight grandchildren, Toby, Taylor, Trevor, Justin, Bryan, Derek, Kyle, and Erin; seven great-grandchildren, Jesse, Tanner, Easton, Zyler, Emma, Brooks, and Ollie; sisters Gloria, Patricia, Grace, and Bonnie; and brother Edmund.  Fred was also predeceased by wife Joy and son Fred “Squeeky” Stay; sisters Naomi, Gertrude and Ella; and brothers Walter, Lester, and Robert.

The Stay family would like to thank everyone at the William Childs Hospice House for their compassionate care of Fred during his last days. Fred had requested that upon his death in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Burial at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery will be on Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 3:00 PM.