Duncan, Oklahoma - Shirley Annette "Walcott" Gay, was born October 31, 1932 in Oakland, Oklahoma to Mary Carolyn McMillan Walcott and Fredrick David Walcott. She left this earthly journey on January 14, 2025 in Duncan, Oklahoma.

Shirley grew up in Oakland and Madill, Oklahoma. She was the fifth of six girls. She sang in the chorale and played oboe in the band. She met the love of her life, Alvin Grady Gay, and they married on June 5, 1949 in Madill, Oklahoma. To this union 5 daughters were born: Shelia, Sherry, Carla, Rhonda and Marie. Shirley and Alvin took in many foster children and thru this they had a sixth daughter who came back to them as a adult, Alice Beaver.

Shirley was very involved with the school at Liberty and was a vital part of the PTA. She was a devoted Christian, a member of Church of Christ. She and Alvin were involved with many campaigns that she had her first stroke at the age of 35. She never stopped trying and eventually was able to walk again. She and Alvin owned and operated Gay Lease Service in Velma, Oklahoma. In the mid 1980's they moved to Monument, Colorado and started an antique shop called a Lavender Cottage. They had a thriving business and was well known in the antiquities world. After closing the shop they managed a retirement community in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Shirley worked as an office manager in a Drivers Education School. In 2009 they moved back to Duncan and Alvin passed in 2011.

She was preceded in death in death by her husband, Alvin, daughters Shelia and Alice, sons-in-law Mark Smith and Steve Slate, her sisters Adele, Gwen, Loanna, Dorothy and Mary, brothers-in-laws and sister-in-laws and her parents Fred and Mary.

She is survived by her daughters Sherry and (Jim) Bates, Carla Slate, Rhonda Smith (John Kulanko) Marie and (Paul) Parrish, grandchildren Jamie Bates, Joel Blackburn, Christopher Smith, Patrick Parrish, Daniel (Jess) Slate, Keegan Parrish, Emily Smith, Chad Pelton, Stuart (Taylor) Smith, Kierick Parrish, Alex Workman, Rebecca Slate, Kelin Parrish, Mark Aldred, Kevin (Ev) King, Great-grandchildren Ashton Bates, Ellie Lamb, Malkli Smith, Michael Smith, Camden King, Aaron Smith, Monty King, Magnolia Smith, Gabriel Slate, Auriel Slate and Maxwel Smith and sister-in-law Jeri Gay.

Pallbearers will be Derek Milburn, Charlie Gay, David Aldridge, Mark Aldred, Kevin King, and Chad Pelton. Honorary pallbearers will be her grandsons.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at the Prairie Hill Church of Christ with Paul Wingfield officiating. Interment will follow at the Duncan Cemetery and arrangements have been entrusted to the family care of Carter-Smart Funeral Directors.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Sunday, January 19, 2025 from 3-5 p.m. at the Carter-Smart Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent to www.cartersmartfuneralhome.com.