Joyce J. Gay

Joyce J. Gay, 80, of St. Paul, passed away on November 22, 2024 at The Cedars at Broadwell in Grand Island.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at Jacobsen- Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in St. Paul.

Pastor Jeff Friesen provided words of comfort.

Musical selections included “Gentle on My Mind,” “Roll On Mississippi,” “Your So Far Away,” and “Where the Cowboy Rides Away.”

Daniel Gay, Zachary Hilmer, Jesse Gay, Ryan Hall, Brady Gay, and Justin Fraundorfer were the pallbearers.

Interment was held in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul.

Memorials are suggested to the family for a later designation.

Joyce was born on October 18, 1944, in rural Cushing, to Everett and Edna (Nielsen) Gay. She graduated from St. Paul High School in 1963.

In 1969, Joyce obtained her Licensed Nurse Practitioner license to pursue a career in health care. A five-year employee of Howard County Medical Center, she was responsible for a variety of tasks. In the twenty years preceding her retirement, she worked at Lakeview in Grand Island.

As well as knitting, Joyce enjoyed crochet, and she even sewed wedding gowns. Her cooking and baking skills were excellent. A country music fan and an old western movie enthusiast, Joyce loved both. It was no secret that she was an avid Husker fan. In addition to supporting her nieces and nephews in all their activities, she especially enjoyed spending time with them and her family.

Those left to cherish her memory include her sister; Doretta (Shawn) Arnett of Grand Island, two brothers; Larry Gay of St. Paul and Donald Gay of Grand Island; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Everett and Edna; grandparents, Jens and Bertha Nielsen and R.D. (Robert) Gay; a sister, Elen Dalrymple; and brothers, Robert (Bob), James, and Gary Gay.

The Phonograph-Herald | December 4, 2024