Gail Mays Morriss

Gail Mays Morriss, a retired Austin realtor and long time officer of the Pemberton Heights Neighborhood Association, died Thursday, February 10, 2011. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 14, at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

She is survived by her younger brother and sister James and Janie, her three children John, Steve and Anne, 10 grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. All of her family loved to be in her presence as Gail shared with them such a great love of life. During her two year battle with lung cancer, she was able to travel both in the country and abroad, spending as much time as she could with the family she loved so dearly.

In her professional life, Gail operated with a level of integrity and expertise that was rather unique in the professional world. She had numerous clients who bought more than one house from her, referred countless friends to her as clients, and stayed in touch throughout the years. She often succeeded in finding the ‘perfect’ house for her clients and was always available to make trusted referrals of experienced professionals in architecture, contracting, repair, painting, and decorating. Gail was extremely dedicated to her clients and rarely did a new client not also become a friend.

Gail was very involved in her neighborhood association. She was pivotal in rehabilitating the landscape of various public spaces in Pemberton, instituted the annual Christmas carriage rides, and chaired the activity for a number of years; she was instrumental in organizing the first neighborhood picnic. She also was a partner in the Pemberton Preservation Partners LLC which won an award for community service from the Heritage Society of Austin for their restoration of an endangered historic house at 1410 Northwood Road. Gail’s daily walk with William, her terrier, was a part of the daily rituals taking place in the neighborhood.

Gail was born in Oak Park, Illinois, on November 19, 1937, the daughter of Robert Charles Ostler and Nellie Jane Mac Niven Ostler. She was raised in Dallas, Texas and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. She attended William Woods College, Fulton, Missouri, and Southern Methodist University where she was a member of Chi Omega. She modeled on television in Dallas while at S.M.U. and married Robert Haggard Mays in 1959. Her son, John Robert Mays, was born October 5, 1960. Her second son, Stephen Richard Mays, was born November 18, 1962. Her daughter, Anne Elizabeth Mays, was born September 26, 1965. She divorced and began her real estate career in Houston, Texas and continued it when she moved to Austin in 1974.

In addition to her three children, Gail is survived by her daughters-in-law Jan Mays of Westlake Village, California and Jennifer Mays of Sanibel Island, Florida and son-in-law Robert O’Conor of Houston, Texas ; her granddaughters Amanda Mays of Westlake Village, California, Kelly Mays of Sanibel Island, Florida and Allison O’Conor of Houston, Texas, and her grandsons Reid O’Conor of Houston, Texas, Griffin O’Conor of Houston, Texas, Kyle Mays of Sanibel Island, Florida, Sean Mays, Justin Mays, Bradley Mays and Brett Mays all of Westlake Village, California; her brother and sister-in-law, James and Judy Ostler of Crockett, Texas, and their daughter, Jennifer Ostler, of Dallas, Texas; her sister and brother –in-law, Janie and John Orr of Kyle, Texas and their children Allison Orr and her husband Blake Trabulsi and their daughter Genevieve of Austin; their second daughter, Jennifer Orr and her husband Matt Reilly of Austin; and their son Robert Orr of Austin.

Gail was preceded in death by her parents and husband Robert Haggard Mays and husband Gene Morriss. The family would like to thank Dr. Jerry Fain and Dr. Tim Dziuk for their compassionate care.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Junior Helping Hand of Austin. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.wcfish.com