Charles Clayton “Clay” Free, Jr

Charles Clayton “Clay” Free, Jr., 32, of Gainesville passed away Thursday June 1, 2017.

Born March 26, 1985 and raised in Dawsonville, Clay had been a resident of Gainesville for the past three years.  He was a 2003 graduate of Dawson County High School and member of the Georgia High School Rodeo Association along with the Naval Sea Cadets.  After high school Clay had worked in the trucking industry and served as a volunteer firefighter at Station #3 in Dawson County.  With his dog by his side at all times possible he enjoyed spending time on the lake and was an avid fan of the Gwinnett Braves and Georgia Bulldogs.  He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Clayton and Kathryn Free, Charles Vincent and brother in law, Robert Dean.

Surviving are his beloved K-9 companion, Montana; father and step mother, Clarles Clayton, Sr. and Maria Free, Dawsonville; mother, Denyse Vincent, Signal Mountain, TN; sister, Katie Dean, Cumming; step sister and brother in law, Crystal and Jeff Renaud, Box Springs, GA; grandparents, Jerry and Louise Burt, Dahlonega; nephew, Cooper Dean; a number of other relatives.

Memorial services will be held on Sunday June 4, 2017 at 4 PM at Bearden Funeral Home Chapel.  Rev. Tyler Goode will officiate.

The family will receive friends from 2PM until the service hour on Sunday.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Dawson County Humane Society, www.dawsoncountyhumanesociety.org/donate/ or The American Foundation For Suicide Prevention,  www.afsp.org.

Condolences may be expressed at www.beardenfuneralhome.com.

Bearden Funeral Home, Dawsonville, GA.