Gay Smedes
November 6, 1930 – May 10, 2018
Gladys (Gay) Claire Grantham Smedes age 87, returned to our Heavenly Father on Thursday, May 10th 2018, in Reno, NV. Gay was born on November 6th, 1930 in Denver, CO to Gladys Margarite Van Buskirk and Donald Rupert Grantham. She was the second of nine children. When she was eight years old her family relocated to California. At the age of 17 she met and married the love of her life Donald Gene Smedes. They were married on July 4, 1948 and in 1949 welcomed their first of five children. In 1963 they moved the family to Susanville, CA where they lived the rest of their lives. Don and Gay were married for 63 years before Don passed away in 2011.
Gay was a member of the United Methodist Church, an avid doll collector, loved sewing, and baking cookies and loved children. She babysat for many local children and even some of her great-grandkids over the years. She was affectionately known to many around town as Grandma Gay or the Doll Lady.
Gay was preceded in death by her husband Don, Brothers Thomas and Victor, and Sisters Donna and Gerry.
She is survived by her five children Ray Smedes (Jane) of Carson City, Judi Bauer (Brent) of Susanville, Tom Smedes (Frances) of Sparks, NV, Steve Smedes (Jaime) of Santa Rosa, CA, and Kevin Smedes (Traci) of Sacramento, CA. Also surviving are sisters Margie Frederick of Standish, Patsy Blevins of Oroville, Halima Brewer of Oxfordshire, England, and Michelle Spencer of Susanville as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Gay leaves a wonderful legacy behind in her 9 Grandkids Wendy, Joel, Trent, Brooke, Blayne, Tucker, Grant, Eric and Ryan, and 8 Great Grandkids, Logan, Mikayle, Mason, Nolan, Kyra, Seth, Trajan and Tallyn.
Services for Gay will be held Monday, May 21st, 2018 at 11 am Susanville United Methodist Church. Graveside services will immediately follow at Diamond Crest Cemetery and then there will be a reception at the United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.
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