Patricia Pat Lynn Gay

Patricia (Pat) Lynn Gay

Co-founder, Azalea Storytelling Festival

Some thoughts about Pat Gay...

Enchantress Extraordinaire.

Some people are dreamers, some are doers. She was both. Pat Gray was a dreamer who acted on her dreams - to make her dreams come true. The dream she shared with Evelyn Jordan and Joyce Morgan Young which resulted in the Azalea Storytelling Festival couldn't have come true without her constant work and attention.

When she was on the job, she made the LaGrange Public Library a place of enchantment for her audiences young and old. She was an Enchantress of the most powerful kind. She made the Library a focus of wonder - as in "I wonder what Miss Pat is going to show us tonight" as the children might think as she disappeared into her Fairy Den to conjure up the magic she performed with a few simple props and pieces of fabric. But the grace and good will which sweetly energized anything she touched was unmatched by anyone I've ever known.

No one but she could get away with the sometimes bizarre but always perfect things she did. Her winsome smile and often surprised expression made it clear to all that here was a woman without guile, as Jesus said of one of his friends. She was a Dreamer and a Dream-Maker you could trust with your imagination.

As the person responsible for choosing Featured Storytellers in the early days she had a clear sharp eye for talent - she knew what and whom she liked and she knew how best to serve her Festival audience. It was always a delight to see her on the hunt at Jonesborough, (though I'm not sure what she saw in Ed Stivender), roaming the grounds with her faithful advisor and helpmate, Sidney. Their love for each other was ever apparent to all of us.

She was a Fairy Godmother to several generations of people of all ages, and her Magic Wand was her brilliant ever-present smile.

By Ed Stivender, International Storyteller

September 2016

Patricia (Pat) Lynn Gay passed away peacefully in her sleep, at home in the early hours on Friday September 2, 2016. Bringing her love of stories to children of all ages, Pat Gay served as youth Services Coordinator and Public Relations Librarian for the Troup-Harris-Coweta Regional Library. She retired after 32 years from LaGrange Memorial Library where she is still known by children and their parents as "Miss Pat" THE STORYTELLER.

Pat was one of the founders of the Azalea Storytelling Festival. At the heart of the Azalea Storytelling Festival is the story of a storyteller — Pat Gay. Born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Pat spent her childhood in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where she was a member and AAU backstroke champion of the Atomic City Aquatic Club. Her first introduction to LaGrange was as a competitor in the Southern Peach Swim Meet held at the Callaway Pool during the 1950's. She received the Bachelor of Arts degree in commercial art from the University of Chattanooga, and the master of Librarianship degree from Emory University. In 1961, Pat was hired as a full-time storyteller by the Atlanta Public Library System. She also served as children’s librarian at the American School in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and at the New Orleans Public Library before coming to Troup Harris Coweta Regional Library as youth services coordinator in 1978. Until her retirement in 2009, "Miss Pat" brought her special Pied Piper magic to audiences in a wide range of venues. The opening paragraph in Southern Livings 2001 profile of Pat Gay provides a glimpse: " . . all fidgets halted when Pat widened her eyes, lowered her voice to just-you-and-me level, and launched into the lively tale of a frog. The rest is history — and storytelling mystery.

Miss Pat's infectious enthusiasm for the art of storytelling, and her knowledge and tireless energy led to her active membership in the Southern Order of Storytelling, the American Library Association and the National Storytelling Association. She served as Georgia's liaison for the latter. For decades she presented workshops on children's literature, the emerging reader and storytelling at libraries and conferences throughout the region. Always ready to work and perform in the schools. Pat also taught a storytelling course at LaGrange College. She was a catalyst and mentor for novice storytellers. This gift of mentorship was recognized in 1999 when Pat was honored with the Southern Order of Storytellers' Seanachie Award, presented to members who support tellers old and new over a long period of time. Seanachie Award recipients are also celebrated for spreading the spirit of storytelling, taking it to the larger community. This was a particularly apt recognition of Pat's entire body of work including the founding of the Azalea Storytelling Festival. More than two and a half decades ago, Pat invited Donald Davis, one of the nation's most popular and gifted tellers, to come to LaGrange. Over the years, Davis's encore performances and presence in the community secured a relationship which helped bring to fruition Pat Gay's long held dream of establishing a storytelling festival in LaGrange. In 1997 Pat's work and that of Evelyn Jordan, then chairman of the LaGrange College Education Department, and Joyce Morgan, then assistant superintendent of Troup County Schools, guided the production of the first Azalea Storytelling Festival.

An immediate success, the Festival was honored in 1999 with the National Storytelling Membership Association's Leadership Award In his nominating remarks, Donald Davis credited LaGrange Memorial Library with establishing the "storytelling pulse" which radiates throughout the community Davis further noted the individual work of Pat Gay who "centered and anchored the library's storytelling, heart and life." With this labor of love, she has surely given heart and life to the Azalea Storytelling Festival as well. She was a member of the LaGrange Woman’s Club and the local chapter of the U. S. Daughters of the American Revolution.

Our precious Pat will be eternally missed by her family, including husband Sidney Michael Gay; daughter and son-in-law Alejandra and Jason Lewis of Chattanooga, TN; son and daughter-in-law Carlos and Janelle Schweinfurth and granddaughters Gabrielle and Sydney of Tyrone, GA; and sister Debby Phillips of Chattanooga, TN and nephews and grandnieces and nephews. She is also survived by Nita Howard, a special friend and visitor since college days; and companions and caregivers Mary Tucker, Laura Hurston, Betty Shavers, Porchia Bass, and Emma Robinson.

She was preceded in death by her parents Lloyd Milton and Helen Eugenia Kaylor, and brother Philip Kaylor.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Miss Pat’s Children’s Fund at LaGrange Memorial Library; 115 Alford St.; LaGrange, GA. OR Alzheimer’s Association; P O Box 96011; Washington, DC 20090-6011

Bringing her love of stories to children of all ages, Pat Gay served as youth Services Coordinator and Public Relations Librarian for the Troup-Harris-Coweta Regional Library. She was a children's librarian with the Atlanta Public Library, the American School in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, the New Orleans Public Library and retired from LaGrange Memorial Library where she is still known by children and their parents as "Miss Pat" THE STORYTELLER.

Pat Gay passed away on Friday, September 2nd. A Celebration of Life and visitation will be held Sunday, September 4th from 3 pm to 5 pm at Stiffler Hamby Mortuary Chapel, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA. 706-884-8636

In lieu of flowers the family ask that donations be made to the Miss Pat Gay Children's Fund of LaGrange Memorial Library, 115 Alford Street, LaGrange, GA 30240

Those wishing to share a condolence or remembrance with the family may do so by visiting www.shlagrange.com.

Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA 30240 (706) 884-8636

When Patricia Lynn Gay walked into the room, those in her company felt energy, an enthusiastic spontaneity. This was just one example of who Pat was and how she impacted those around her. Pat was a clever and gregarious person who always sought out the finest attributes in other people. It was as if Pat wanted to share all of their experiences, revel in their lives and celebrate their discoveries. Pat was tireless and had boundless enthusiasm that would serve her well throughout her life.

She was the daughter of Lloyd Milton Kaylor and Helen Eugenia McAllister Kaylor. Pat was raised in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Always at the ready with a good joke, she grew up to be quite a humorous person. While some who knew Pat might describe her as an idealist, her friends and family understood well that Pat was always in pursuit of life’s endless possibilities and opportunities available to her.

Pat was raised with two siblings. She had a younger sister, Debby and a baby brother, Philip. Pat was very accepting and supportive of her family. She was perceived as the central person in her family in terms of keeping communication open between the family members. Whenever discord or tension arose within the home, Pat was typically the member who brought about resolution and harmony. These traits served Pat well in her adult life and, along with her wit, outgoing personality, and understanding of others, drew the admiration of many who knew her.

As a young girl, Pat was able to empathize and identify with a vast array of people and personality types. This quality drew her into a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. Pat was intelligent and had little trouble getting along with her peers. She was almost always the first to jump in when it came to playing games or participating in other childhood activities. Pat excelled in AAU swimming - the backstroke. In her spare time she liked competitive swimming and ART. Patricia's memorable achievements included many backstroke championships. Pat had the ability to find amusement with almost any activity she and the many childhood friends she shared might discover.

During her high school years, Pat responded enthusiastically to any new project and was regularly in search of one adventure after another. She graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1957. Pat was a very good student, and generally did well in her courses. Pat absorbed as much as she could from all of her teachers and was consistently able to tackle conceptual and abstract problems, using her imagination to master her assignments. For Pat, school often became just an extension of playtime, thanks to her ability to turn just about anything into a game. Classmates considered Pat a good listener, knowing that when necessary, they could go to her to discuss just about anything.

Pat did well in college, as a result of her comfort level with tackling new theories and her love of learning. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Chattanooga in 1961. She also pursued graduate school, earning her Master of Librarianship from Emory University in 1963. Pat was very adaptable, a quality that helped her make the transition from high school to college with little difficulty. As a result, Pat's problem solving skills and thirst for new knowledge almost guaranteed that she enjoyed virtually every class she took. Pat was always in quest of new things to learn and experience

With a talent for making acquaintances easily which in turn brought her an endless stream of friends, Pat was very sociable and could blend without effort into any social group. Assertive and outgoing, Pat was easy to know and demonstrated a deep concern for others. She always seemed aware of what was going on with people around her and throughout her life she made many, many friends. Later in life, she became friends with Nita Brooks Howard and Marty Wood.

On November 21, 1980 Pat married Sidney Michael Gay at home, 606 Harwell Avenue of LaGrange, Georgia. Pat's skill at “building bridges” played an important role in her ability to make her new family happy. She was quite sensitive towards Sidney's needs, showing her constant concern and fondness. Pat was tenderhearted and sensitive, qualities that served her well in helping to nurture her family.

Pat was a natural and creative parent who was willing to provide her family with all sorts of new and interesting experiences. For Pat, parenting was a particularly enjoyable and pleasurable part of her life. Every activity, from chores to bedtime routines, became a game in the Gay home. Pat's skill at understanding her children's feelings, her sensitivity to their needs, and her gift for gentle persuasion enabled her to find novel solutions to any problem or situation that might crop up. Pat was blessed with two children: a son, Carlos and a daughter, Alejandra. They were also blessed with two grandchildren, Gabrielle and Sydney.

Pat was uplifted by new ideas and was excited by life’s possibilities, traits that made her an exceptional worker. Her primary occupation was Librarian and Storyteller. She was employed for 40+ years in public libraries with the last 30 years working with the LaGrange Memorial Library. Pat was enterprising, inventive and working against deadlines seemed to energize her. Pat had the uncanny ability to identify a win/win solution to just about any problem, possibly because of her gift for insight. Pat's fellow workers saw her as a supporter and a mentor.

Because Pat loved to have a broad variety of activities in her life, she took advantage of the opportunity to pursue numerous hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were oil and water paintings and storytelling events. Pat had a knack for being able to multi-task in order to create time for all of her favorite pastimes. However, Pat's ever-present concern for others always took precedent.

Pat derived much satisfaction from participating in and watching sports. Her charisma, supportive nature and ability to improvise when called upon to do so all made perfect attributes for enjoying a great many sporting activities. In high school, Pat was on the swim team. Recreational sports included swimming and aerobics. Pat was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were swimming.

Throughout her life, Pat was actively involved in professional and community organizations. She was compassionate, accommodating and quick to move into action. Always able to build a consensus, Pat seemed to be the person smack dab in the middle of things, working to get things done. Those who had the opportunity to work with Pat usually agreed that when you were involved in an organization with her, it was as entertaining as anything you could imagine. Throughout her later years, Pat was an active member of the D. A. R., the LaGrange Woman's Club, and the Southern Order of Storytellers.

Because Pat was constantly in the center of things and where the action was, she always seemed willing to join in and help, regularly getting involved in community activities. Pat's gift of planning and improvisation, along with a talent for rallying support, made her a great asset. Pat found new ways of getting things done in order to help make just about every activity more efficient and enjoyable. Pat was an active member of several community groups, serving on committees for the 4th of July Parade and the L. S. P. A.

Though she never did anything solely for individual recognition, Pat's ingenuity, resourcefulness, and selflessness, earned her accolades for her many lifelong efforts. Some of her most prestigious awards included the Seanachi Award in 1999 from the Southern Order of Storytellers, in 2003, she won in the state of Georgia, 1st place in the DAR competition for "American Heritage and Cultural Events", and in 1995, 1st place in drama in the Georgia State Senior Talent Showcase.

Pat's love of improvising in her daily life was a perfect fit for her enjoyment of traveling. Her favorite vacations were ones that were not planned. Traveling in a casual manor fit her personality well. Excited about seeing changing scenery and constantly looking for the enjoyment life could offer, Pat took her vacations seriously, well, as seriously as she possibly could. Favorite vacations included an Alaskan Cruise and annual trips to the beach at Amelia Island.

Pat was a lover of animals and cherished her pets.

When Pat's retirement finally came in 2009, Pat handled it the way she usually did. She adapted and, like everything in her life, made it satisfying. Because she was such a flexible person and able to adjust to any situation, retirement was just another enjoyable change of pace for Pat to master. Her new life involved staying in LaGrange, Georgia. Even in retirement, Pat continued to stay in touch with her old friends and like always, made plenty of new ones.

Pat Gay passed away on September 2, 2016 at her home in LaGrange, Georgia. She is survived by her spouse, Sidney, her son and his wife, Carlos and Janelle, her daughter and her husband, Jason, her grandchildren, Gabi and Sydney, and her sister, Debby. Services were held at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary. Pat ashes were scattered in Amelia Island.

There was always a certain style and inventiveness to Pat. She was a dynamic, self-expressive person who was forever looking to celebrate the endless possibilities life had to offer. She had a knack for being clever, creative and witty, and for others, was a joy to be around. While she was often fiercely independent, it seemed as if many others looked to Pat Gay for inspiration, leadership, wisdom and even courage. Pat was always more than willing to share life’s experiences with her loved ones.