Gay Lea Woolsey, 74, beloved mother to five boys, loving wife of 56 years, from Elma, Washington, passed away at home on Friday, May 24, 2024, leaving a void her family cannot fill. Anyone who ever met her knew that they were touched by a true, living angel full of unconditional love.

Gay Lea was born in San Francisco in 1949, grew up in the Mojave Desert area, and graduated from Buena Park high school in 1967. She married the love of her life, Richard Woolsey, February 10, 1968 in Morro Bay, California and moved with him to start their life together settling in Elma, Washington.

Gay Lea’s nurturing and loving soul permeated everything she did in life including places she worked. From Oakhurst Convalescent Center in Elma, The Beehive Retirement and Assisted Living in McCleary, Edgewood Manor in Montesano, Grays Harbor Health and Rehabilitation Center in Aberdeen, and finally at the Elma school district assisting with meals at the high school, she devoted her life attending to the needs of others.

Gay Lea was an affectionate mother and took great pride and joy in her five boys. She made each one of them feel special, loved and supported as they went on to build their lives. Her unconditional love was often expressed by the special things she would create with her own hands like a crocheted blanket, sewn clothes, or meticulously colored pictures (which she did until her final moments). She also loved to garden, paint with oils, listen to the Beach Boys, camp in the rain with her family, and watch any movie that starred Patrick Swayze or Sam Elliott.

Gay Lea was preceded in death by Lois Smith (mother), Wes Smith (father), Mildred Woolsey (mother-in-law), Calvin Woolsey, (father-in-law), Robert Ames-Woolsey (son-in-law), and Aliah Woolsey (granddaughter). She is survived by her husband Richard Woolsey, Greg Smith (brother) and Mary Smith (sister-in-law), her five boys (Matthew, Scott, Keith, Robert, and Shawn), Duane Knox (son-in-law), Julie and Katie (daughters-in-law), six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a number of extended family who will never forget the love she brought to their lives.

A Celebration of Life will take place for Gay Lea Woolsey on Saturday, June 8, 2024 at 1 p.m. at the Abundance Life Church in Elma, Washington.