Gaw, Doyle Shrigley

Obituary

Brentwood—Mr. Gaw passed away peacefully on April 14, 2018, just a bit shy of his 87th birthday, May 19th. He was born in Gainesboro, TN, to Cleavis C. and Pearl W. Gaw as the sixth of their nine surviving children. Doyle is preced in death by both of his parents as well as Dr. J. C. (Helen) Gaw, Jack (Nancy) Gaw, Sara (Sam) Lynn, Betty (Bill) Wisdom, Lloyd (Jeanette) Gaw, Charles Gaw, and Dr. William Gaw. His brother Dr. David (Patsy) Gaw is the only surviving sibling.

Doyle leaves behind his beloved wife of sixty-five years, Ranelle Austin Gaw, as well as his children Jay (Holly) Gaw, Mark (Pat) Gaw, Amanda Gaw, Tyler Gaw, and Turner (Suzanne) Gaw. Doyle has six grandchildren: Lauren (Jared) Attig, Bailey (Dale) Sutherland, Christopher (Chappell) Gaw, Tara Christian, Taylor Williams (Harrison), Turner Gaw II, as well as seven great- grandchildren: Cassidy Attig, Evelyn Attig, Walt Attig, Henry Attig, Felix Sutherland, Hugo Sutherland, and Baker Williams.

Doyle developed a rigorous work ethic growing up on the family farm in Gainesboro. He attended Jackson County High School and graduated at the age of sixteen. It was his parents’ realized dream to send all of their children to David Lipscomb College for Christian education. It was at Lipscomb that Doyle met and married his beautiful wife and partner, Ranelle. After graduating in 1952 from Lipscomb, Doyle and Ranelle moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, for a job as a preacher. Being newly married and because money was tight, he employed his work ethic to provide a better life for his family. While teaching school during the week and preaching on the weekends, he also painted houses, and earned his Master’s Degree from Western Michigan.

When his mother became ill, the family decided to move back to Nashville where Doyle began working in the securities industry. Not long after moving back to Nashville, Doyle founded Tennessee Securities with his brothers, Lloyd and Charles. It was at that time that Tennessee Securities raised capital for these business success stories: Royal Publishing, now known as Thomas Nelson Publishing, Scottish Inns, and Service Merchandise. Doyle founded Akorn, Inc., manufacturer and marketer of generic and branded pharmaceuticals. He was privileged to begin a publicly traded mutual fund called the Volunteer Capital Fund. Volunteer Capital now owns J. Alexander’s restaurants. He also partnered with Hack Massey to buy Colonel Sanders out from Kentucky Fried Chicken. Doyle served as CEO, President, and board member for Tennessee Securities, Scottish Inns, and Akorn, Inc. In his later career, he served on multiple boards and invested in real estate, hotels, and other ventures.

Doyle always honored the Lord as his top priority, having worked extensively to found and/or fund several organizations, such as AGAPE Foster Care and Counseling, Korean Christian College Fund, Faith Family Medical Center, Brightstone, the Clevis and Pearl Gaw Scholarship Fund at Lipscomb University, and many others. Doyle and Ranelle have been active members at Otter Creek Church of Christ for over fifty-five years. Through his preaching, teaching, giving, business pursuits, and daily walk of faith, he influenced countless numbers of people for Christ. Above all else, Doyle lived every day for the Lord and for his family. He had a deep desire to protect and nurture those he loved. His relationship with his wife was a sweet and tender one, and she was his true soulmate. He worked tirelessly to be a good provider and example for his children. He viewed himself as extremely blessed and tried to use those blessings for the benefit of those he loved and those in need.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to one of the causes that Doyle was passionate about: AGAPE of Nashville, Faith Family Medical Clinic, or the Cleavis and Pearl Gaw Scholarship Fund at Lipscomb University.

Visitation will be held Thursday, April 19, from 5 pm to 7 pm, and Friday, April 20, 2018, between 11 am and noon. The memorial service will begin at noon with burial immediately following. Visitations and the memorial service will be held at Otter Creek Church at 409 Franklin Road, Brentwood, TN 37027. Please visit our online obituary at woodlawn-roesch-pattonfh.com.

Comments at Doyle’s funeral by Fletcher Srygley, April 20, 2018

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day…II Tim. 4:7-8

Those words of Paul to Timothy can be echoed by Doyle Gaw. Excellent in all that he did. He ran a good race. He kept the faith. I admire him as husband, father, grandfather, teacher, preacher, and businessman. But I mainly knew him through our association at church. Doyle was a deacon when we first came to Otter Creek. It was not long before he was made an elder. It seemed that he made more than his share of announcements, especially when they might contain something difficult to hear. Doyle was quiet, low key. But he chose his words carefully and you could bank on what he said. If there was a challenging meeting to have with someone, Doyle would be assigned the task. Before, during, and after serving as elder Doyle exerted leadership—Agape, the Korean work, Faith Family Clinic, the Wayne Reed Center,…and more.

I was blessed in that my tenure as elder overlapped with that of Doyle for several years. My perception is that in some elderships there is a Chief Elder. I don’t think that has ever been the case at Otter Creek. However, I also know that when an issue was discussed we wanted to hear Doyle’s perception of the situation. Often after a discussion in which

he had said little, in that quiet voice of his he would speak a few words that summed up the issue and we would come to a consensus.

I had not been an elder for very long when we received a letter that was quite critical of the elders, me in particular. It was an angry person lashing out, but uncomfortable, nevertheless. Gail and I remember walking into church that Wednesday night with considerable angst, and Doyle Gaw coming up to us, and smiling gently, said, “Well, welcome to being an elder.” Gail remembers feeling a relief that we were not being thrown to the wolves. He had my back. Doyle was a good and wise man. He knew when encouragement was needed.

There is much that I admire about Doyle, and in fact, the entire Gaw family. I especially appreciate the quiet way he endured and learned to live with back pain for many years. Doyle has been a rock in family, business, and church while, without complaining, he dealt with what would incapacitate many of us.

Many years ago, Doyle made a comment in a class that was profound. He was not the teacher. The discussion was probably about witnessing our faith. Sam was telling about an encounter he’d had with an acquaintance, Jim. [I’m changing the names.] Apparently, Jim had said something that left an opening for advice, testimony about faith, or perhaps criticism. Sam had let the moment pass and expressed regret that he had not taken the opportunity to tell Jim what he thought Jim needed to hear.

Doyle’s response made a lasting impression on me. He said, “If you were just going to tell Jim what you thought he needed to hear to get it off your chest, it might not have helped Jim at all. In fact, it might have been counter productive and he might have resented it. We need to consider what we are trying to accomplish and choose our words to achieve that end.” Doyle nailed it. “To be helpful, a comment should focus on what will help the other person, not on what will make me feel betterer.” We honor a good and wise man—Doyle Gaw..He fought the good fight, he finished the race, he kept the faith. He receives the crown of righteousness.