Melba Gay Gayer was born Melba Gay Heavener on August 6, 1937, in Byron, OK to Wade and Elvina (Bostic) Heavener and passed away Friday, June 28, 2024, peacefully in her home in Moore, at the age of 86 years, 10 months and 22 days.

Gay began her education in Quinlon, OK and after attending elementary for a few years in Butler, OK the family moved to Carnegie, OK and then onto Blair, OK where she graduated high school.  Gay often spoke about her time working in the theater in Carnegie and selling admission tickets in the little box office in front of the auditorium. After high school she found employment in Altus, OK at the Wagon Wheel Cafe which is where she would meet her husband of 68 years, Jerry Eugene Gayer.  Jerry and Gay were married in the First Baptist Church of Altus on June 24, 1956. Shortly after marriage, Gay attended Altus Junior College taking bookkeeping and administrative classes.  While living in Altus, she and Jerry had 2 children, Sharon Gaylene Gayer and Brian Eugene Gayer.  Shortly after Brian was born, the family moved to Greenville, TX and then to Salina, KS before settling in Weatherford, OK where they would establish their permanent home and raise their children. While her husband worked as a traveling sales representative, selling agricultural chemicals to farmers and co-ops, Gay went to beauty college in Clinton and started working as a hairstylist.  After several years, Gay and Jerry had saved enough to open a western wear store in Weatherford. Gayer's Western Wear was initially operated by Gay for its first 5 years until Jerry could retire to devote his full time to the store as well.  Together they turned Gayer's Western Wear into a well-known business throughout Western Oklahoma. After almost two decades of operation, Gay and Jerry decided to retire in Weatherford and sold Gayer's Western Wear to their son.  They continued to live in Weatherford until moving to Moore, OK in 2019, to be closer to their daughter, grandson, and his family.  They had been living in Moore for 3 years when Jerry went into the VA center full time which is where he resides today. There was nothing more she enjoyed than spending time and playing with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. To them, her love was unconditional and her time was always free. She also loved to travel with her husband. Gay was a devout Christian with unshakable faith in her lord and savior Jesus.

Gay is survived by her husband, Jerry, her daughter, Sharon, her grandchildren, Cody and Krystal, and her great grandchildren, Braylon, Victoria, and Kobi. She is preceded in death by her father and mother, Wade and Elvina, a brother and sister, and her son, Brian.