Obituary of Dorothy W. Gay

Dorothy “Dottie” Wallace Gay, 83 of Iowa City died Sunday, January 21, 2007, at the Oaknoll Retirement Residence. Funeral services will be held at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, January 25, 2007, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Iowa City with the Reverend Mark Martin officiating. Visitation will be from 4pm until 7pm Thursday at the church. Family burial services will be held at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Dorothy’s memory to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church or Iowa City Hospice. Online condolences may be sent for Dorothy’s family through our website @www.gayandciha.com. Dorothy Wallace Gay was born July 22, 1923, in Iowa City, the daughter of Ben and Dorothy (Miller) Wallace. Following graduation from Iowa City City High School she attended and graduated from the School of Business at the University of Iowa. During World War II, Dorothy lived in Chicago, where she supported the war efforts by selling victory bonds. On March 18, 1945, she married Charles Gay at the First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City. For many years she worked at the family business, the Gay’s Locker in Iowa City. She was a charter member of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Iowa City, and a charter member and organizer of the Town Club dancing club. Dorothy enjoyed her association with the Mercy Bridge Club, Wednesday night pontoon parties, and the Locust Ridge neighborhood picnics. Dottie volunteered many hours at the Old Capitol. She was a member of P.E.O. for over fifty years, a member of the Raphael Club and Kappa Kappa Gamma Social Sorority. She could spend hours watching birds, tending to her garden playing tennis or spending time with family and friends. She was always involved in her children’s and grandchildren’s lives, watching many swim meets, soccer games, and countless other school activities. To Dottie, her husband, Charlie, was the love of her life, and her family was the joy of her life! Her family includes her husband, Charles; daughter, Nancy Spencer and her husband Don of Spokane, WA; and their children, Stefanie Smith and her husband, Doug and their children, Doug, Becca, Eleanor and Nathan; Jenifer Gunn and her husband, Jim and their children, James and Katherine; and Whitman Spencer and his wife, Elysia; daughter, Ginny Reynolds and her husband, Glenn of Glen Ellyn, IL and their children, Bill Reynolds and his wife, Kristin and their daughter, Sydney; and Tricia Reynolds; daughter, Becky Gelman and her husband, Tom of Iowa City and their children, Sam and Emma Gelman; son, Bill Gay and his wife, Anne Wallace of Iowa City and their children, Jake, Dan and Hanna Wallace; Dorothy’s sister, Nancy Shain of Louisville, CO. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, and two sisters, Sally Weih, and Betty Wallace. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is caring for Dorothy’s family and her services.