Mary Ola Gay

Mary Ola Sangster was born March 3, 1935 in Seminole, Oklahoma to Olin Benny and Mary Elizabeth Sangster. She was the oldest of three sisters and grew up in Earlsboro, Oklahoma where she graduated from high school in 1953.

She married Richard M. Gay at Fairview Baptist Church on August 9, 1953 and together they began a life of Christian ministry. She had three children, Donna, David, and Dennis. She earned a Bachelor of Education degree from Oklahoma Baptist University and a Master of Education degree from East Central University. She influenced countless lives as a teacher in Shawnee for 27 years.

She was a grateful recipient of a kidney transplant in 2003 that extended her life for many years, allowing her to share in her children's, grandchildren's, and great grandchildren's lives much longer. She loved everyone in her family and served as an example of strength, compassion, and wisdom that will continue for generations.

Mary Ola departed this life on September 28, 2015 with the same strength and dignity with which she lived her life, leaving this “robe of flesh," and stepping into the glories of heaven. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Richard M. Gay, of the home; two sisters, Darlene Browers, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Peggy Eeds of Earlsboro, Oklahoma; her daughter, Donna Louise Ware, and husband Darrel "Doc” Ware, of Elk City, Oklahoma; her son David Loren Gay, and wife Connie Gay, of Philip, South Dakota; her son Dennis Lynn Gay, and wife Carol Gay, of Hastings, Oklahoma; seven grandchildren: Darcy Stowe, Dustin Gay, Daree Willman, Jonathan Gay, Daisy Ray, Daley Gay, and Carlyn Gay; twelve great-grandchildren: Orein Gay, Jenevieve Gay, McKenna Gay, Reece Gay, Kaiden Ray, Katie Ray, Gracie Ray, Eli Stowe, Lydia Stowe, Molly Willman, Max Willman, Maggie Willman, and their sister, Mary, expected in January. She was preceded in death by her parents and one grandchild, Donnel Ware.