Charles Clayton "Clay" Free Jr., 32, of Gainesville, died June 1, 2017.

Born March 26, 1985, and raised in Dawson County, Clay had been a resident of Gainesville for the past three years.

A 2003 graduate of Dawson County High School and a 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 No. 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.

His grandparents, Clayton and Kathryn Free, Charles Vincent and brother-in-law, Robert Dean, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his beloved K9 companion, Montana; father and stepmother, Charles Clayton Sr. and Maria Free of Dawsonville; mother, Denyse Vincent of Signal Mountain, Tenn., sister, Katie Dean of Cumming; stepsister and brother-in-law, Crystal and Jeff Renaud of Box Springs; grandparents, Jerry and Louise Burt of Dahlonega; nephew, Cooper Dean; various other relatives also survive.

Memorial services were held at 4 p.m. June 4 in the Bearden Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Tyler Goode officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations were requested made to the Dawson County Humane Society, www.dawsoncountyhumanesociety.org/donate or The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, www.afsp.org.

Bearden Funeral Home of Dawsonville was in charge of the arrangements.