Edna V. Gay

Edna Gay, 91, of Grand Island formerly of St. Paul, died Monday, September 6, 2010 at her daughter's home.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday at Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home in St. Paul. The Reverend Pat Moore will officiate. Burial will be held in Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to St. Francis Hospice.

Edna was born September 12, 1918 on a farm northwest of Wolbach to Jens L. and Bertha (Cassel) Nielsen. In 1919 the family moved eight miles southwest of Wolbach. She attended elementary school at Rock Creek District 34 and then Cushing High School.

She was united in marriage to Paul Everett Gay on November 2, 1935. The couple lived in the Rock Creek area until 1954 when they moved to St. Paul.

Her husband Paul died in December 1960.

Edna worked in cafes and Abel's nursing home. She started working at the St. Paul Public School in 1978 and retired in 1988.

She loved working in her yard, raising flowers, sewing and making quilts.

Edna liked to attend family gatherings.

She was a past member of the Grace Baptist Church in St. Paul.

Survivors include five sons and daughters-in-law, James and Mary Gay of Palmer, Robert and Alice Gay of Ericson, Donald Gay of Grand Island, Gary and Kay Gay and Larry and Nila Gay, all of St. Paul; three daughters, Ellen Dalrymple of Ericson, Joyce Gay and Doretta Arent, both of Grand Island; 27 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; 20 great great-grandchildren; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Jens and Susie Nielsen of Bella Vista, AK and Paul and Dee Nielsen of Wolbach; a sister-in-law, Hazel Nielsen of St. Paul and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; one grandson, Steve Gay; one great grandson; five sisters, Martha Bahensky, Elsie Wondercheck, Esther Swanson; Evelyn Leeper and Elnora Cook; two infant sisters; two brothers, Carl and Bert Nielsen; and one infant brother.