Lasting Memories

Jan Craig Gay
Feb. 2, 1928-May 18, 2017
Lahaina, Hawaii

Jan Craig Gay, formerly of Atherton CA, passed away peacefully on May 18, 2017 at her home in Lahaina, HI. She was 89. Jan and her younger sister Carla were born to Harold and Ruth Craig of Altadena, CA. She attended Altadena High School and the University of California Los Angeles where she was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business in 1949. In 1950 Jan was hired by the Electric Accounting Machine Division of International Business Machines. A Systems Instructor, one of her students was Henry M. Gay, who became her husband in September 1952. Their only son, Craig, was born in 1955. Moving with I.B.M. from Los Angeles, to Endicott (New York), Denver, and Salt Lake City, the family eventually settled in Atherton, California where Jan was active in the Red Cross, the P.T.A., the Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, and Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. Jan ran a successful kitchen design business and designed several of their family homes. She was legendary for her creativity and organizational abilities. She loved planning family events, a competitive game of bridge and traveling with Henry. She was good-humoured and unfailingly forthright. Jan’s faith in Christ was her hope and comfort. She battled Multiple Sclerosis for almost 50 years. Her husband and primary caregiver, Henry, passed away within 48 hours of her death. She is survived by her sister, Carla (Dan), her son, Craig (Julie) and her four grandchildren, Andrew (Casey), Elsa, Owen and Nicholas. A memorial service for Jan (and Henry) will be held at Kumulani Chapel, Maui, on Saturday, June 10, 2017 at 2 pm. Donations in honor of Jan can be made to Young Life Maui and/or Kumulani Chapel.