Henry Gordon Mays, age 90, of 105 Howard Street, Clifton Forge, died Thursday, May 21, 2009 at The Springs Nursing Center in Hot Springs.

Born May 22, 1918 in Clifton Forge, Gordon was a son of the late George Lewis Mays and Mary Alice Stinnett Mays.

He was Yardmaster for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad in Charlottesville for a number of years and was a life member of the Charlottesville Elks Lodge.

He also was a member of the Clifton Forge Elks Lodge (B.P.O.E.) # 1065 and the Central United Methodist Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Eva Johnson Mays in December of 1993, and a sister, Margaret Lewis Eubank.

He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Betty M. and William A. Laing III of Culpeper; a son and daughter-in-law, Gordon E. and Diane Mays of Chester; a brother, George Elwood Mays and wife ,Frances of Clifton Forge; three grandchildren, William Laing IV, Mary Laing, and Star Mays; three great grandchildren, Eva Laing, Lucy Laing, and Margaret Olivia Laing; and a number of nieces and nephews, including a special niece, Patricia Bates of Clifton Forge and her family.

A graveside funeral service will be held on Monday at 2:00 p.m. in Mountain View Cemetery, Clifton Forge, with Reverend Barry Burkholder officiating. Interment will follow. There will be no formal visitation. However, friends may call any time at Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge. The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to the Central United Methodist Church Men's Bible Class Radio Fund, P.O. Box 16, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.