Gay Nell Thorndike

Gay Nell Thorndike, age 73, passed away on September 8, 2022 in Plano, Texas. She was born on May 2, 1949 in Austin, Texas to N.A. and Nell Mills, also known as Nanny and Dadoo. Gay Nell was raised in Center Point and Rockdale, Texas, and graduated from Rockdale High School in 1967.

In 1974 she met a young computer programmer named David Thorndike, who was smitten with her the first time he saw her in the halls of Prudential Insurance Company in Houston, Texas, where they both worked. They were married on Valentine’s Day in 1975. David always joked how smart he was to marry her on Valentine’s Day, as he wouldn’t forget the date, and could cover both Valentine’s Day and their anniversary with one gift. Need-less-to-say, Gay Nell didn’t think that was very funny.

Shortly after the birth of the first of the couple’s three children in 1978, Gay Nell quit her job to stay home and be a full time mom. She was a wonderful mom and her children were always her first priority. She was involved in all their activities, and their schools. In the 1980’s she was involved with the PTA of their grade school and eventually was president of the PTA. In 1990, the family moved to Plano, Texas, and when the children were older and the youngest child was about out of grade school, she got a job working in a pediatrician’s office – she had said for years how much she would like to work for a pediatrician. She eventually became the pediatrician’s Office Manager. She retired in 2010.

Gay Nell loved to spend time at the couple’s lake house in East Texas. She called the lake house her “happy place” and she was truly happy there. She loved to have the children and grandchildren spend time at the lake, as well as the couple’s friends, and friends of the children. And she loved doing things and going places with their friend, Ann Gilmore, who also has a house at the lake. She also had fond memories of the trips and fun times she had with her fellow Goober, Melissa McElroy. She was a great cook – she would often tweak a recipe and make it better. She found much joy in cooking for, and with her friends and family. She also enjoyed canning; each year she would can many quarts of pickles, tomatoes, jam, etc. She loved puzzles, reading, UT football and most sports, sunsets at the lake, fires in the fireplace during winter, and of course, her pooches, Kramer and Barney. She had a green thumb and loved gardening and taking care of her plants. Traveling was also much fun for Gay Nell – she loved annual trips to Las Vegas, where she always looked forward to going to shows, to The Lodge on top of Mt. Charleston, and doing a little gambling. But her absolute greatest love and joy was being a wife, mom, and Nana to her four grandchildren.

She felt honored to be a Godmother to Kathryn Baranowski whom she loved dearly. Kathryn’s mom, Patty Baranowski, was one of Gay Nell’s best friends for many years.

Gay Nell is preceded in death by both her father and mother. She is survived by her husband of 47 years, David, and their three children, Lindsay Soechting and husband Charles, Hayley Thorndike, and Blake Thorndike. She is also survived by her precious grandchildren, Emory and Charlie Soechting, and Mason and Noah Thorndike. In addition, she is survived by her sister, Carole Mills, and sister-in-law, Sharon Thorndike.

Gay Nell made friends easily because she was kind, fun-loving, and thoughtful. She was always willing to sacrifice for others. And she was always there as a confidant, a listening ear – especially for her daughters, and a counselor for the family. She will be greatly missed.

There will be a reception to follow services at the family’s home.

2316 Cross Bend Rd.

Plano, Texas 75023

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.teddickeywestfuneral.com for the Thorndike family.