July 6, 1940 ~ July 16, 2002
Gay Stanley, age 62, passed away unexpectedly at home in Gardena on Tuesday, July 16, 2002. She was born July 6, 1940 in South Gate, CA and outside of living in Michigan for five years as a child spent her entire life in Southern California. She leaves two sisters and a brother-in-law, Candy McCain, Laurie & John Pollard. She also leaves two brothers, Louis George and Donald George of Idaho. Also, ones left behind are two nieces, Holly Young & Deanna Thompson and a nephew, Daniel McCain and grandniece Stephanie Young. Services were private.
GAY'S MEMORIAL
This page is to celebrate the life of Gay Stanley and to know a little more about her from her sisters and brothers.
Gay was born Gloria Gay George in Southgate, CA July 6, 1940, the first of five children and the “guinea pig†as she always jokingly said to our Mom and Dad. Outside of our move to Michigan in 1947 and back in 1952 she lived her whole life in Southern California.
She attended St. Eugene’s Catholic school in Los Angeles and graduated from there in 1953. She then entered Morningside High School in Inglewood and graduated from there in 1957 not quite 17 years old. She had been working at the Imperial Theater in Inglewood starting when she was 15 passing as older because of her height. She attended El Camino “Junior†College for two years where she pledged the sorority Chi Theta Chi. As her younger sister I can even remember some of those days. She did have fun! We still remember her and her sorority sisters dancing the “Charleston†in the living room and hitting the glass table! It of course shattered and fell away as testament to their great dancing! The sorority with their “brother†fraternity building floats in our parent’s backyard. Parties and more parties!
In about 1959 she applied for a job at Honeywell and the personnel manager there was Frank A. Stanley. There was “something†there because in October of 1960 she and Frank were married at St. Eugene’s Catholic Church. They lived in Manhattan Beach for a while then bought a home in Torrance, CA. sometime in 1963. I was married by then to Bob and we’d bring our baby Holly out there. When they moved to Palos Verdes in 1965 we continued to visit. It was such a beautiful home, which overlooked the Pacific Ocean. Our Mother passed away in 1966 and lives changed. Gay and Frank divorced in about 1969 and she moved back to Torrance. They did remain friends and even dated after the divorce for a while.
She frequently drove out to our home in Garden Grove and we had many great evenings together. I loved when she invited us over to her apartment. She was such a great cook. During this time, the 1970s she met Joe Kahoe and before long they moved in together and moved to a new apartment and finally to Dalton in December of 1980. They were together about 17 years and again a change.
Gay would come up to our home in Santa Rosa just about every Christmas. This was absolutely her favorite holiday and she surely brought the “spirit†with her. It just made our Christmas, too. She always went out of her way to pay special attention to her nieces and nephews and to be sure she brought the perfect presents for them. And if for some reason she couldn’t make the trip, she always sent a beautiful floral arrangement to let us know she was with us in spirit.
She would meet us in Reno many, many times for a quick weekend. She was so much fun to be with in Reno. One 1993 Reno trip with Gay, Joe, Bob and me we attended a doll show and I saw her buy her first doll. She was hooked from then on. It was a whole new world opening up for her and she absolutely loved it.
During her “adult†years she worked at Air Research, Tycor, TRW and Xerox, maybe more. She made lifelong friends at each work place, from college and her entry into the doll world. She was a beautiful woman and lovely sister. She had a wonderful sense of humor, very quick wit and always a kind word for someone. She cared very deeply about her family and friends. She made lifelong friends of Matt, who worked on her beloved computer, Janet, a fellow owl collector and Joe her upstairs neighbor and friend at her apartment where she lived for 22 years. She was always so elegant in her appearance and turned heads wherever she went and she didn’t even notice it. She didn’t have an ounce of conceit to her. She loved nice clothes and wore them well as all of her friends know.
She passed way too soon and will be missed forever and a day.
So very, very sorry. I knew Gay at AiResearch Mfg. Co. I remember when she made her first dress and was so proud wearing it. At the house, she and her mother harmonized and gave me a nice little concert. I lost track of her in the 70\’s, but did think of her often as she was one of the first to befriend me at AiResearch (now Allied Signal). God Bless, Liz
The phrase only the good die young, comes to mind. I knew Gay, as we worked together at Xerox, she was always cheerful, kind, and willing to help in any way. I\’m so sade to hear of her passing. She was also a friend of Dr. Bob and Bill W. I will pray for you the remaining family in your time of loss and sarrow. I\’m so glad that I knew her in this world, she was a wonderful person. I guess God needed another Angel. God Bless you all, Grateful John
Our condolences to the family from the staff of Arico\’s Hallmark and Joe & Barbara Arico
My friend, although many miles apart over the last few years, will always hold a special place in my heart. So many fun memories about Gay & myself and our time together through thick and thin. All the laughter and tears we shared. Gay, you will be missed but always loved and kept safe in my heart. God bless you and may you rest in peace. Your friend, Anita
I remember gay as a little girl in south gate, who played with my boys eddie and wayne
We were so sorry to hear about the loss of your sister, Candy. Our condolences to you and your family.
Gay to me is a very special sister inlaw to me. She is more of a sister and really helped me when my brother passed on. Gay was very sharing, warm, funny, very styleish dresser, always asking how you are first. I will miss her dearly. A part of her will always be with me all that knew her.
Sorry that you have lost your sister Candy. Gay was as you said a person of quick wit and with a good word for all. I enjoyed her chats on those visits to your home when I stoped by.Your family has our condolences. Ev & Menzie
Though Gay and I never met we knew each other very well; via the internet and many hours of late night phone conversations. Our last phone conversation, while I was in Houston, was about her flying to Houston to meet me and for her to accompany me to northwest Arkansas in search of a place for me to consider renting/buying. She wanted to meet me — to do that with me. Gay opened her heart to me, her soul and I know she loved me as I loved her. I miss her – continue to think of her. Holly, should you read this – she loved you, honey…so very, very much. I miss her terribly — I do.
I will never forget the many loving memories we shared. Even though we parted, I never stopped loving you. Until we meet again, Love Joe
Just discovered today that you, my dear friend, are no longer with us. My heart is so sad. I loved you so much and remember the laughs we had when we got together in early 2001 in Torrance. I will treasure you always for everything you taught me about being a good secretary and how many laughs we shared telling stories about people we have worked with. Remember the Doberman that ate the wiring out of a fellow employee’s car, and that is the reason the employee said she was late to work AGAIN! Oh, my, I think of our conversations so often. I will miss you. I was hoping to see you again and maybe I will on the other side. Love, Christine.