Donalda Gay

Donalda “Donnie” Maple Gay, age 92, of Saranac Lake, N.Y. passed away at Elderwood of Uihlein at Lake Placid, N.Y. on Saturday, December 23, 2023.

Donnie was born on June 29, 1931, in Saranac Lake, the daughter of Leo Maple and Marieanne Boulley Maple.

Donnie and her Irish twin sister Barbara were raised by her maternal grandparents, Arthur and Della Boulley, after the death of her mother when Donnie was a year old.

She married the love of her life, Wallace “Wally” Gay on May 12, 1951.

Donnie grew up in Saranac Lake, graduated from Saranac Lake High School in 1949, she earned a certification as a Dental Hygienist at the Eastman Dental Dispensary in Rochester, N.Y. in 1951. She was an employee with the Saranac Lake Central School District as a Dental Hygienist before working for the State of New York Ray Brook Sanitarium. When the Sanitarium became a prison, Donnie transferred to Sunmount DDSO in Tupper Lake. Donnie retired in 1991 after 35 years of service. Donnie returned to the Saranac Lake Central School District as a hall monitor and monitoring various high school sporting events.

Donnie was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, teaching Sunday School and serving on the Ecumenical Council as secretary for many years. She was the second Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Queen.

Donnie is survived by her daughter Barbara Fitchett and her companion Clyde Bleavins of Los Angeles, California, son John Gay and his wife Robin of Vermontville, NY; Twin Granddaughters Katelyn and Madelyn Gay; Twins Granddaughter Emily Gay and Grandson Andrew Gay all of Vermontville and many nieces and nephews; good friend later in life, Ronald Hesseltine with whom she enjoyed watching Jeopardy, reading, and taking rides throughout the North Country.

Donnie was preceded in death by her husband Wallace Gay, sister Barbara Roesch as well as her mother, father, and grandparents.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home, 20 Church Street, Saranac Lake, NY. Calling hours are scheduled for Saturday December 30, 2023 from 11:30am until 1:30pm at the Funeral Home with a Memorial Service scheduled for 1:30pm with the Reverend Eric Olson officiating. Burial will take place at a later date in the family lot in North Elba Cemetery.

Family and friends wishing to remember Donalda “Donnie” Gay may make memorial contributions to the Saranac Lake Fire Department in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home. Family and friends may also share a memory, send a condolence and sign the on-line guest book at www.fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com