Camelia Gay Demmitt-Williams

Camelia Gay Demmitt-Williams of Kansas City, MO, known by most as “Gay,” passed away peacefully on Friday, January 8, 2016 at the age of 96. She was born April 23, 1919 in Clarksburg, MO, beloved daughter of the late Carl Isaac Demmitt and Rose Camelia (Williams) Demmitt.

Gay is survived by her cousins, Shirley (Demmitt) Golden, Kathryn (Kit) M. (Francis) Shoop, Elaine Mead, Faye Hartshorn, Tonya (Demmitt) Heermans, Adelbert (Bert) A. Francis II, Wade (Sonny) H. Williams III, William (Bill) D. Williams, Thomas Edward Demmitt, Thomas Brent Demmitt, and her stepson, Randy Williams. She was preceded in death by many friends, family, and colleagues who admired and loved her. Gay had no children of her own, but leaves behind her dear friends and children of the heart, Anita M. Hohnecker, Cecelia A. Brown, Tom Tacy, Irene McCorkindale, Martha Bell Leonard, J.C. Bowman and Bonnie Demmitt.

There are many left in the world who remember her wonderful storytelling, appreciation of beauty and the arts, need for fun and adventure, sharp wit, keen business sense, endless determination, complete integrity, direct honesty, generous spirit, bubbling laugh, and winning smile. Gay was a graduate of Westport High School. After attending Kansas City Junior College, she worked for Western Auto, Gustin-Bacon, and the George H. Weyer Co., where she advanced through the management ranks as Personnel Director during a time when women did not have that opportunity. She broke the glass ceiling more than once during her career and had success at anything she set out to accomplish.

As part of the "Greatest Generation" she also had a stint with North American Aviation in Fairfax, KS during WWII; a real life “Rosie the Riveter”, assembling B-24 bombers. She was the first-ever female agent for the J.C. Nichols Real Estate Co. on the Kansas City Country Club Plaza in 1959. Before long she became a well-known, award winning agent for Nichols until her retirement in 1995, achieving recognition and respect in her career field.

Though she was beautiful enough to be a classic movie star, Gay chose to be valued most for her mind and skill, not her looks, which was uncommon for women of her generation. Among her many achievements she was an avid rider, owning horses most of her life. She traveled the world over, owned and operated an airplane, and, always a fan of classy cars, got herself the very first new Studebaker convertible after the war. To quote Gay, “Never a dull moment.”

Gay loved people, nature, and had a high regard for animals, especially her horses, wild birds, as well as the many cats and dogs she rescued or kept as pets throughout her lifetime. As a child, she was known for keeping farm animals as pets. In her friends and family she nurtured love and kindness toward all creatures great and small. Her presence in the world has left a tremendous impact, a legacy that will live long after her departure.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 14, at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer and Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Rd., Kansas City, MO, 64131 beginning at 10:00 am, with a memorial service at 11:00 am, followed by the graveside committal service at the Hickman Cemetery in Clarksburg, MO. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made online in her honor to www.friendsofkcanimals.org or mailed to Friends of KC Animals, 4641 Central, Box 348, Kansas City MO, 64112.