She graduated from Salina High School and Kansas Wesleyan University and was an elementary school teacher. She taught in Herington and Culver and retired in 1972, after teaching for many years in Salina at Hawthorne, Parkview and Lowell schools.

During World War II and for several years after, she worked with her father and then her husband, Glen, in their neighborhood grocery store on South 10th Street in Salina.

She was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church in Salina.

On Oct. 8, 1933, Gay married Glen Albert Nothern in Salina. Glen died Nov. 30, 1991. She was also preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, Ovett and James B. Austin.

Gay is survived by two sons and their wives, Austin and Marianna Nothern, of Topeka, and Jim and Shirley Nothern, of Beloit; five grandchildren, Glen "Chip" Nothern, of Salina, Noel Nothern, of Kansas City, Kan., Nathalie Wessling, of Beloit, Brent Nothern, of Topeka, and Mary Lemmon, of Lawrence; and seven great-grandchildren.

There will be no visitation.

Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at First United Methodist Church, 122 N. Eighth St., Salina 67401, with the Rev. Troy Bowers officiating.

A private family Inurnment service will be in Roselawn Cemetery, Salina.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the church. Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth St., Salina 67401, is in charge of arrangements.