October 1, 1956 - October 10, 2024. Gay died at home after being diagnosed a month ago with cancer at an advanced stage. She was the elder daughter of the late H. Donald Guthrie, QC. Gay is survived by her mother, Ann Guthrie; her sister, Barbara Stewart (Jason); her brother, Neil; her nephews, Geoffrey (Emily) and Hugh (Sophia), and their children, James, Mac, Avery and Shea.
Gay was born in Toronto and educated at Branksome Hall and Queen's University, where she earned a BA in Art History. After working in Toronto, New York and Bangkok, Gay moved to Orillia, where she immersed herself in local life. She was the inaugural director of the Sir Sam Steele Art Gallery, overseeing its merger with the Orillia Historical Society to form the Orillia Museum of Art and History. Gay was the proprietor of Sixty One, an elegant housewares shop on the main street. She also worked at the Couchiching Conservancy as volunteer co-ordinator. Her own volunteer work included serving on the boards of the Orillia Public Library, Orillia Community Non-Profit Housing, the Municipal Heritage Committee, the Downtown Orillia Management Board, Friends of the Orillia Public Library, Information Orillia and the Orillia LACAC, all of which she chaired. Gay lectured and published widely on art, antiques and collecting.
At her request, there will be no funeral. If you wish, please make a donation in Gay's memory to one of the causes she supported.