Gayla Elaine Northcutt

She was born with her twin to Walter and Imogene (Abeles) Mays in Dallas, Texas. Gayla shared an enduring bond with her twin brother Gary. The two were inseparable in stride and mischief while growing up with their older sister Dianne. They reminisced often about their family’s camping vacations. Their adventurous travel was decades prior to when camping was considered “cool” and the family of five camped out of their station wagon. These times instilled grit and some hilarious tales. Gayla attended W.W. Samuell High School in Dallas and graduated with the class of 1962. At 17, in her senior year of high school, she met and married the love of her life, Earl Dean Northcutt, Jr. Following graduation, Gayla accepted a job with the Federal Reserve Bank located in downtown Dallas. On November 22, 1963, Gayla was with coworkers and got to see President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline pass in the motorcade shortly before the president was assassinated, a day that resonates in history and in all of our hearts to this day. In 1965, Dean and Gayla started their family. While raising their daughters, it was always family first in their short 42 years together. For fun they enjoyed collecting antiques and understanding the history behind them. They owned a 1928 Ford Model T and 1932 Chevrolet Confederate. Dean and Gayla both natives of Texas moved their family to Kansas City, when Dean accepted a job transfer with the Kansas City Southern Railroad. After transferring back to Texas several years later, when Dean retired, they built a new home and relocated to Kansas to be close to their grandchildren. Gayla was selfless, kind, generous, hospitable and witty. Her home had an open revolving door. She enjoyed cooking and was well known for her fabulous desserts. She will be remembered for her prize winning peanut butter fudge. In the past, Grandma Gayla’s fudge boosted dollars raised at several charitable events. On Thursdays you could find Gayla with friends, playing cards, a special time she cherished and encouraged to be carried on in her absence. She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, ceramics, reading, travel, music, movies and keeping up with Hollywood’s news. She also enjoyed the viewing of yellow finches that flocked her bird feeders. Her neighbors noticed their frequent visits and named her beautiful feathered friends “Gayla’s finches." She loved fiercely and led by example through her faith in Christ and will be missed beyond measure.

Gayla was proceeded in death by her parents, Walter and Imogene Mays; her husband, Earl Dean Northcutt, Jr.; her twin, Gary Mays and his wife Beverly; her brother in-law, Melvin Jasek and her grandson, Skylar Needham.

She is survived by her daughters, Lyncia Kissee (Will) and Noell Petigna (Alex) of Shawnee, KS, Sara Schriner (Scott) of Bella Vista, AR and Deana Meador (Ed) of Texas; her sister, Dianne Jasek of Mandsfield, TX and her brother-in-law, Joe Northcutt (Carol) of Allen, TX; her grandchildren, Alexandria Petigna (Jason Plouzek), Collin Petigna, Loren Wallace (Jay) and Alden Needham; her nieces and nephews, Kristy Hays (Van), Kelly Jasek (Chris), Erin Mays, Ben Northcutt (Rachel), Rachel Quisenberry (Hank), Becky Butler (Brian) and Katie LaQuey (Trey).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, American Stroke Foundation, Wounded Warriors or the Arbor Day Foundation – Tree Planting.

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