Mary Gay

Mary Ruth Melchar (Dodge) Gay Mary Gay, age 90, died peacefully on Monday, April 29, 2019, at 6:55 p.m. in her Lakewood Colorado home. She was cared for as a patient at St. Anthony’s hospital the week before, due to injuries from a fall. Her four children and many extended members of her family and friends came in throughout the week to stay with her at the hospital. They continued the vigil at her bedside when she was brought home Friday, April 26th. Early Years Mary was born on November 26, 1928, in Sargent Nebraska to Bert Leon and Estella Lucille (Gault) Melchar. She was born in Sargent Nebraska and had an older brother, Bert Lowell Melchar (1927–1997). The family moved to Green River, Wyoming where her father taught school and later to Rock Springs. During a 1931 summer visit to the Gault farm in Iowa, Mary lost her mother on July 31 due to miscarriage. Mary was not yet three years old. After her mother was buried in Creston, her Aunt Irene Melchar and Grandmother Clare Melchar traveled from Tarkio Missouri to Green River to help take care of the family. Her Grandmother got sick shortly thereafter and succumbed to pneumonia on June 19, 1932, at the age of 66. Irene stayed on with her brother and helped raise Bert and Mary and was their “Mom” until she died in 1983. The family stayed in Rock Springs and Mary’s Dad continued on for 27 years as the principal of Rock Springs High School until his death of a heart attack in 1957. Mary graduated from high school in 1946 and moved to Laramie to attend the University of Wyoming. She was an active sorority gal (Tri-Delta), and received her degree in education in 1950. During her junior year, she met Calvert Dodge (1921-2010) on the steps of the university library, fell head-over-heels and married him in Rock Springs on April 2, 1950. The couple moved to Brighton Michigan when Calvert took a sales job with Standard Oil. Mary began teaching elementary school in the fall. Their first son was born in Detroit and two daughters came soon after a move to Chicago. They purchased their first house in Park Forest and Mary was able to spend time with her Mother-In-Law and Sister-In-Law. The children played with and got to know their close cousins during these years, especially Lorri, Leslie, Gary, and Lynn. The family moved back to Wyoming where Calvert started a cement block manufacturing business and their youngest son was born. Calvert and Mary started building their vacation cabin in the Jackpine summer home area south of Jackson Hole Wyoming. Colorado The Dodges moved to Golden Colorado in 1963 where Calvert worked at the Chevy dealership and Mary continued teaching elementary school. A year later, they moved to Boulder and then in 1965, Calvert took a job as a training officer for the State of Colorado and the family moved to the house on S. Drew Way in Lakewood. Many good memories come from the years the Dodge family lived there. All four children finished high school there. Mary and Calvert divorced in 1971. She met Robert E. Gay (Bob) and married him on June 29, 1973. Grampa Bob – “the Bobster” became an integral part of the family until his death in 2007. Teaching Career Mary taught elementary school all her work-life. A year in Brighton Michigan, then Laramie Wyoming, Boulder Colorado, Bear Creek Elementary, Lasley and finally Patterson in 1970. She taught hundreds of 1st graders to read for 22 years until her retirement in December 1992. She absolutely loved 1st graders. And they loved her! She developed many friendships with her fellow teachers: Gayle, Doris, Kathleen, and Barb to name a few. She went on several “teacher” cruises and trips and enjoyed and loved each one, especially Hawaii. In 1986, after 1 ½ years of attending school on weekends, with her friend Gayle Vaughn, she received her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Lesley College. Retirement Mary retired when she was 65. In the spring of 1993, she and Bob moved up to Green Mountain II townhomes. Mary was hesitant to leave her home on Drew Way but learned to love her new home. No more yard work, swimming pool and clubhouse onsite for family and a park right across the street for grandkids and great-grandkids to play. Mary and Bob enjoyed their years of retirement; Bob on the golf course and at the spa, going for walks and watching football and Mary enjoying her group of friends, card playing, traveling, and spending time with her kids and extended family. She loved going out to eat and to the movies, picnics trips to the mountains, her Las Vegas timeshare and would jump in the car on a moment’s notice to get Dairy Queen or head to the mall for some shopping. Family The importance of family was at the top of Mary’s list. She hosted holiday parties at her townhome and at the clubhouse. Her favorite, after Thanksgiving, was the annual family Christmas party where names were exchanged for gifts. She had so much fun picking out a special gift for the person she picked each year. Mary is survived by her four children: Larry (Cathy) Dodge, Laura (James) Barth, Valerie Dodge, and James (Debbie) Dodge. Grandchildren: Monica (Abby) Sekhon, Phillip (Madeline Heistand) Dodge, Renee (Anthony) Gonzalez, Troy (Andrea) Schultz, Keith (Jennifer) Schultz, Caroline (Jake) Ernst, Edwin Barth, Mae Barth, Adam (Shoko) Behrle, Doug (Shana) Barth, Lindsay (Dan) McNatt, Christopher Dodge (Veronica Lynn), Michael (Stephanie) Proctor, Crystal (Bill) Leahy, Kevin (Kelly) Dodge and Amanda Campbell. Great-grandchildren: Benjamin, Rand, Natalie, Colton, Paige, Jace, Kaitlyn, Casey, Jack, Sam, Max, Allison, Alia, Charlotte, Shaun, Lilia, Jimmy, Liam B, Ryder, Kyla Joy, Maya, Arya, Liam L, Lily Mary, Kyle and April. Burial Mary was cremated and interment of her remains will be in the Rock Springs cemetery next to her folks – Bert and Aunt Irene. When I come to the end of the day And the Sun has set for me I want no rites in a gloom-filled room. Why cry for a soul set free? Miss me a little, but not too long, And not with your head bowed low. Remember the love we once shared –Miss me, but let me go. For this is a journey we all must take – And each must go alone. It’s all part of the Maker’s plan, A step on the road to home. When you are lonely and sick at heart Go to the family or friends we know. Remember the fun times – Miss me, but let me go.