Virginia May Gay Davis

She was the second oldest of six born to Charley Thomas and Alberta May (Blanchard) Gay on September 9, 1928, in Seminole, OK, where they lived for a number of years. Following the oil industry, her dad moved the family around various places including California and East Texas, finally settling in Odessa.

While going to high school she worked at the Pyote Army Base and at Wackers Dime Store. She graduated from Odessa High School in 1946, and shortly afterwards married and was blessed with three beautiful daughters. She became a single mother, and raised her three daughters while working at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as an operator, an engineer, and estimate assigner. She retired after 33 ½ years of service in 1984.

Because she retired at an early age (age 52) she was able to enjoy traveling overseas to Europe, England, and Germany, and numerous places in the United States. She learned how to oil paint, taking classes at the Senior Citizen Center here in Odessa, and became an accomplished painter. She won first place in one of the art shows at the Permian Basin Fair.

She was an avid reader and loved reading many types of books, of which her favorite was the Bible. She was an early riser and spent her early morning hours reading the Bible and spending time with Jesus in prayer. She was a great prayer warrior and Bible scholar, and spent many hours praying for her children, grandchildren, and extended family. Especially when out on her trips with family she could be seen sitting in a chair in the early morning sunlight, reading and praying.

She taught many Sunday school classes and Bible studies to numerous people over the years. She had a way of telling Bible stories and teaching the Bible to even the youngest listener that made the Bible come alive and left them wanting to hear and learn more. She was fondly known as “the sucker lady” at church where all the little kids would come running to gather at her knee and wait for their treat.

She had a way with words and loved writing. Anytime someone had a scavenger hunt planned they always knew that Nana was the person to call for the clues. She was a wizard at creating clues and it took a normal scavenger hunt to an entirely different level. Pure Fun!

One of her greatest pleasures in life was her family. Her face brightened when one of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, or great-great-grandchildren walked in the room. Everywhere she went she was so proud to exclaim that she had eleven grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. We were privileged to have her with us, five generations of love. She had great love for all of us and will be tremendously missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents Charley and Alberta Gay, and her siblings Charlie, Bill, Betsy, Helen Maxine, and Donald.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters Sue Albritton, Ellen Gentles and husband, Frank, and Terri Notgrass, all of Odessa; grandchildren, Tom Albritton and wife, Flora, of Winnie, TX, and children Kyle, Keith, Britni, Kelsie, Kaili, Katie, Kaleb, Kylie, and Kevin; Ronny Albritton and wife Pam of Odessa, and children Ashley Davis and husband, Jordan, and Shelby Albritton; Kim Notgrass of Odessa; Sherry Nodine of Streator, IL, and children Elizabeth and Amber; Donald Gentles and wife, Lisa, and children Ryon and Cindy; Sharla Notgrass and fiancé Scott Starita and children Randa Danae, Brooklyn, and Nick; and adopted grandson Craig Lomax of Odessa; great-great-grandchildren Sydni, Connor, Harper, and Kellie; sister Donna Tisdale of College Station, TX; nieces Frankie Hitt and husband, Mike of College Station, TX; and Stacy Gray of Midland; and great-nephew and nieces Shawn Hitt, and Angie Yarbrough, and Alyssa Gray.

Family visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 20, 2013, at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 21, 2013, at First United Pentecostal Church with Rev. Terry Pugh officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens where she has a corner spot waiting so she can “wave to others going by.” (She was a people watcher, too.)

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Tom and Ronny Albritton, Donald Gentles, Jordan Davis, Scott Starita, and friend Jerry Collins.

In lieu of flowers, donations to one’s favorite charity can be given in her memory, or to either of her favorite charities: Tupelo Children’s Mansion in Tupelo, MS, or the Ronald McDonald House.

Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home of Odessa.