- Date Of Birth: August 16, 1919
- Date Of Death: October 1, 2012
- State: New Mexico
ELMA JEAN GAY
Elma Jean Gay was born in Fredonia, Kansas on August 16, 1919 to Elmer and Mabel McKinney who preceded her in death. She is the youngest of three sisters, Louis Gipe and Elizabeth Murphy , who also preceded her in death. Jean passed away Monday October 1, 2012, at the age of 93. Her husband William Bill Gay and son Richard Gay at her side at Sunset Villa Nursing Home. Jean is survived by her husband William Gay at their family home. Jean is also survived by two sons Curtis Eugene Gay of Denver Colorado and Richard William Gay and wife Dianne of Trenton, Texas and daughter, Kendra Susan Rhoades and husband Gary of Burlington, Colorado. Also survived are four grandchildren Joshua Adam Ray of Trenton, Texas, Heather Michelle Roots of Bedford, Texas, Karah Lindsey Reygers and husband Joseph of Denver, Colorado and Kolby Lee Melia and husband Daniel of Burlington, Colorado. Survived by seven greatgrandchildren Rachel Sincheff, Donovyn Adam Ray, Dyanna Marie Ray, Bailee Morgan Roots, Aaron Robert Rabourn, Benton Lee Melia, and Abby Mae Reygers.
Jean met William Bill Gay at Pittsburg State Teachers College. They courted for two years and then were married at 8:30 am on June 22, 1941 at the Methodist Church in Fredonia, Kansas. They worked at Boeing aircraft as World War II was approaching. After assisting with the completion of the first 100 B29 aircrafts Bill was no longer needed so off to war he went. Jean then went to work at the modification center in Denver, Colorado.
After the war, Jean helped Bill obtain a Bachelor Degree from Denver University and a Masters Degree at Pittsburg. Jean then went on to teach elementary school children for three years in Wichita, Kansas and eighteen years in Denver, Colorado. After teaching, she and Bill started their family. As a music major in college she was prepared for twentyfive years as the church organist at Bethany Methodist Church in Denver and five years at Trinity Methodist. Jean also had the opportunity to move to Australia with Bill as exchange teachers. This experience was most rewarding.
Jeans two sisters attracted her to move to Roswell, New Mexico with her husband in 1983 for some thirty years of retirement. Having been a rockhound in Denver, she joined the Chaparral Rockhound Club in which she was an avid member. During the years of service with the rockhound she served on the board, as club secretary, and teacher in the lapidary class. She loved traveling and is a member of the Cactus Sam Travel Club. Every year they would travel to Quartzite, Arizona with the rockhound group. They also traveled to various rock shows throughout the United States to show off the beautiful rock displays she and Bill had put together.
The family would like to thank the nurses and doctors who took excellent care of Jean while at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center and Sunset Villa Nursing Home.
