Dorothy R. Gay

On December 18, 2014, Mrs. Dorothy Rankin Gay, beloved wife of the late Commander Harold M. Gay, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What a blessing to spend Christmas Day with Jesus and her loving husband she has missed for 25 years.

Born in Burkburnet, Texas on June 10, 1913 to Edward Johnston Rankin and Rose Olive Beedy Rankin, Mrs. Gay was the wonderful mother of four children, beloved grandmother of 16, fascinating great-grandmother 37 and very involved great-great-grandmother of 6.

An accomplished musician, Mrs. Gay was the Concert Mistress for the Oklahoma City Symphony at age 12. She began her love for the violin as she sat on her daddy’s lap and put her fingers on his fingers as he played. Her many relatives delighted in helping her play “Pop Goes the Weasel” on her violin because she would let them ‘pop’ the string during the song – which always created great merriment and fascination for the children and a life-long love of music.

Mrs. Gay completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Education at Central State College in Edmond, Oklahoma, her Masters Degree in Latin at University, and all of her coursework for her Doctorate Degree. A respected teacher for 39 years, she taught Latin, French, Music and Mathematics in the public schools in Oklahoma, as well as locations where her husband’s Navy career took them. A spirited University of Oklahoma Football fan, she never tired of watching and cheering on her beloved Sooners.

Mrs. Gay’s children include: Harold M. Gay, Jr. of Norman, Oklahoma; James N. Gay of Wichita Falls, Texas; Mrs. Carolyn Smith of Culpeper, Virginia; and, Mrs. Marilyn Sloan of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

An active member of the First Baptist Church of Norman, Oklahoma for over 60 years, she was the last surviving member of the Dorcus Sunday School Class, which had been together for decades. For her 100th birthday, people who came from across the country to celebrate this exceptional woman and her life. She was surrounded by her family, life-long friends, her church family.

She is preceded in death by her father, mother, husband, two sisters and one brother, and two great grandchildren. Services will be held 11:00 am Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at the Primrose chapel, with burial next to her husband of 48 years in Shawnee, Oklahoma.