Gay LaJuan Sanders Neill, age 88, passed away peacefully on the 1st day of June 2022.

Gay was born in Roaring Springs, Texas on October 25, 1933, to Claude and Tommie Sanders. She always adored her older brother Don Mickey Sanders. Gay graduated from Muleshoe High School in 1951 where she was the Drum Major of the Majorettes, active in FHA, and played on the basketball team. She attended Texas Tech University and Baylor University until the tragic tornado struck Waco in May 1953.

A few months later, while working in Midland, she met the love of her life, George Hardin Neill. They married in 1954 and she relished her new role as a homemaker. For Gay, her life revolved around her family, and she was a devoted mother to her daughter, Cheryl, and son, George Michael. She excelled in making each of her houses a home and was an accomplished cook, seamstress, decorator, and hostess. Gay enjoyed gardening, reading, traveling, and playing games, where she always seemed to get the luckiest roll of the dice. She was known for her impeccable style. Gay was an active participant in several community groups, garden Clubs, and a faithful member of the Methodist church throughout her life.

The Neills called many places home during their fifty-two years of marriage including Midland, Lafayette, Pittsburg, and Ft. Worth before eventually retiring in Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas. Following her husband's death in 2006, she moved to the Dallas area to be closer to her daughter and four grandchildren. She is survived by her children Cheryl Neill Ayers (Tom) of Dallas and George Michael Neill of Palm Springs, sister-in-law Wanda Sanders of Seminole, four grandchildren Thomas Neill Ayers (Jennifer), Jennifer Ayers Clifton (Jacob), Mary Kate Tomlinson (Jake), and Bekah Anne Hekele (Eric), numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. She found the greatest joy in being "GayGay" to her nine greatgrandchildren: Hayes, Raylan, Georgia, Caroline, Mackenzie, Jack, Riley, Graham, and Neal. A memorial service will be held the 16th day of June 2022 at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Plano, Texas at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the St. Andrew Retirement Ministry. Interment will be at the Oakwood Cemetery in Austin at a future date.