EAST LONGMEADOW, MA – Barbara Jane (Gorrod) Gay, of East Longmeadow, died following a brief illness on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at Baystate Medical Center with her family by her bedside. Born in Springfield, Barbara was the daughter of the late George A. and Ethel E. (Heath) Gorrod.
She completed comptometer school after graduating from the High School of Commerce in Springfield. Barbara was retired from Monsanto Chemical Company in Springfield where she worked in the payroll department for 37 years. She had been a lifelong area resident and had resided in East Longmeadow since 1982. A strong supporter of her family’s involvement in Rotary International, Barbara was a recipient of R.I.’s Paul Harris Fellowship award.
Barbara is survived by her husband, Alfred J. Gay; his children, Valerie Dulude and her husband Harley of Southwick, MA and James and his wife Deidra of Northampton, MA and Nashville, TN; her grandchildren, Christine Burns and her husband Anthony of Westfield, Julianne Dulude of Westfield, Justin Gay of Northampton, and Trevor Gay of Socorro, NM; and several cousins.
Calling hours will be held Sunday, March 30th from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at Dickinson-Streeter Funeral Home, 305 State Street, Springfield, MA. The funeral will be held Monday, March 31st at 11:00 a.m. at First Church of Christ, 763 Longmeadow Street, Longmeadow, MA. Burial at Hillcrest Park Cemetery will be private.
A survivor of polio as a child, the family requests that memorial contributions be directed to The Rotary Foundation/Polio Plus and mailed to, The Rotary Foundation, 14280 Collections Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693 or visit www.endpolionow.org
