Mary Ellen Gay-Guyett

Mary Ellen Gay-Guyett was born on August 26, 1938 in Cookson, Oklahoma (Indian Territory). She passed peacefully from this life on January 13, 2015 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma at the age of seventy-six years, four months and eighteen days.

Mary Ellen was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She had a special knack for telling stories and always had a witty sense of humor. Mary raised her children in Southern California. She worked in the automotive industry where she met her husband, James. In 1977, they moved to Oklahoma where they opened an automotive repair shop in Tahlequah and spent many years serving the community as a waitress at the Tsa-La-Gi Restaurant. Mary's passions included gardening, rock collecting, fishing, bird watching and watching Wheel of Fortune with her husband, James. Grandma's house was always a place to go where everyone was welcomed to laugh and receive love.

Mary Ellen is preceded in death by her parents, Ted and Maggie LuLu (Ratliff) Gay; Grandparents, George and Sarah Elizabeth (Carter) Gay and Richard and Lizzie Mae "Toonie" (Cookson) Ratliff; brothers, Kenneth Gay and George Ed Gay and sister, Carol June Gay Russell.

She is survived by her adoring husband, James Ralph Guyett of the home; her sister, Evelyn Richmond of Tahlequah; her brother, Richard Gay and wife, Joyce of Lompoc, California; her brother, Robert Gay and wife, Jerri of Cookson, OK and her sister, Alene Kearney and husband, Paul of Lancaster, California; her children, Patricia A. Cordova of Tahlequah, David A. Jensen and wife Linda of Garden Grove, California, Katherine A. Chumley and husband, Jim of Tahlequah, Mary E. Kwolek and husband Larry Van Noy of Azusa, California, Carolyn Jensen Finch of Tahlequah, Deborah Jensen Murphy of Cookson, John F. Jensen and wife Debbie Jennings Jensen of Tahlequah, and stepson, Keith J. Guyett and wife Donna of Tahlequah. Her legacy lives on in her twenty-six grandchildren, thirty-nine great-grandchildren as well as a host of family, friends and MANY More!

Viewing for Mary Ellen will be held on Friday, January 16, 2015 from 12pm-6pm at Reed Culver Funeral Home. Services will be held on Monday, January 19, 2015 at 2 pm at Pettit Bay Cemetery.