Mildred Arlene Gay

Mildred Arlene Baxter Gay passed peacefully from this world on November 5, 2024. She was born February 25, 1934 in Anniston, Alabama, the only child of Alexander Marvin and Grace Pauline Baxter. The family moved to Miami, Florida where Mildred (who went by Midd) was raised. That is where she met and married James Patrick Gay on December 20, 1952. Jim and Midd would have seven children together.

As an only child, Midd was not fully prepared to be a wife. Jim said that even the cat wouldn’t eat her cooking when they were first married. However, Midd became an excellent cook and homemaker. She played the piano and organ and was the pianist/organist for her church for many years. Jim and Midd had a piano at home and the family gathered around it often. Midd would play while Midd, Jim and the children would all sing. Music was an integral part of her life.

What Midd will be remembered for most is a life of service; as a wife, mother, neighbor, church member and caregiver. She loved Jim dearly and they had a wonderful life together filled with love. Midd loved being a mother and spent her life giving love to her children as she prepared them to be adults. She visited neighbors and members of her church, delivering goodies, love and friendship. As a caregiver, she cared for Jim as cancer eventually cut his life short far too soon. She also cared for her father, mother, mother-in-law and an aunt in their final days of mortality. Her life was spent putting everyone else first. She joyfully served her family, neighbors, and many friends. She will be greatly missed and the world will be a darker place without her light and goodness. She absolutely was and is one of the most Christlike daughters of God.

Midd was preceded in death by her eternal companion Jim; her parents, Marvin and Polly; a daughter, Colleen Patricia; two grandsons, Daniel and Rick. She is survived by her other children; John Stevenson (Suzy), Sandra Kathleen (Mike), Scott Alexander (Dona), Kevin Patrick (Beth), Keith Baxter (Kelly), and Michael Sean (Aimee); 36 grandchildren and 52 great-grandchildren.

The services for Mildred Arlene Gay will be on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at the Hollywood Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 510 North 35th Avenue, Hollywood, FL 33021. A viewing will be from 9:00a-10:00a, funeral service from 10:00a-11:00a, followed by a gathering to visit with family from 11:00a-12:30p.