Diane Heller Gay

Diane Heller Gay passed away quietly in her sleep on Monday, August 8, 2016. She was born to Mary and Lloyd Heller on March 10, 1935 in Prescott, Arizona. Diane was a 1952 graduate of Prescott High School. Although Central Florida was her home for almost 60 years, Diane always loved Prescott, returning every year for her high school reunion, hiking through the mountains, valleys and canyons of Arizona and rejuvenating her spirit in the vast expanse of the American Southwest. In June of 1953 Diane married 2nd Lieutenant Francis V. Gay in the West Point Chapel. When Frank graduated from Duke University Law School in 1961, the Gays moved to Orlando, Florida where they raised four children. Diane was active in church and community activities, serving as president of the Junior Sorosis Club of Orlando and on the Vestries of St. Christopher’s, St Michael’s, St. Mathias and Emmanuel Episcopal Churches. Diane returned to school in the 1970s, earning a Bachelor and Master of Arts from Rollins College in 1976 and 1978. Diane and Frank retired to Astatula, Florida in 1998. Diane returned to Winter Park in 2005, where she remained active in her church for many years. Throughout her long, rich life, Diane devoted herself first to her family, then to her church and her community and finally to improving herself. She touched many lives and all are richer for having known her. Diane is preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Francis V. Gay. She is survived by her brother, Steve Heller of Prescott, Arizona and her children, Francis V Gay, II, of Houston, TX, William L. Rinko-Gay of New York, NY, Melva G. Bigelow of Leesburg, GA and Michael Gay of Winter Park, FL., eleven grandchildren and one great grandchild. The family would like to give special recognition and thanks to the wonderful women who lovingly cared for Diane during her last years, Donna Chmielewski, Beverly Douglas, Carol Nelson, Emma Geffrand and Icodel Brown. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at 11:00 am at Emanuel Episcopal Church, 1603 E. Winter Park Rd. Orlando, FL. A private internment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to Emmanuel Episcopal Church.