Eight days shy of her 99th birthday, Agatha was ushered into heaven. Her worn out heart and body were made whole when she became “absent from the body and instantly present with the Lord.”
Gay was the middle child born August 9, 1920 to Delbert and Lela Simmons-Daniel. She lived in Ash Grove, MO and attended school there until her family moved to Springfield. She graduated from Springfield High School. Her first job was working as a car hop at the local A&W restaurant.
During her teen years Gay fell madly in love with a handsome young man by the name of Kenneth (Ken) Cantrell. They met at Smith Park and after talking for a while Ken offered to take her home. She agreed…..so he rode his bicycle while she trotted along next to him all the way back to her house.
After dating for two years they secretly decided to get married. Ken sold his Brownie camera to get the money they needed to drive to Buffalo, MO. (Gas was 12 ½ cents a gallon). They drove to a Pastor’s home where they said their wedding vows. It was several months later before they finally informed Gay’s mother of their marriage. The longevity of their union was one that very few couples ever experience. This past May 31th they celebrated their 79th wedding anniversary.
Shortly after their daughter Linda came along, Ken was drafted into the Army and shipped to the European Theater to fight in WWII. During his absence, Gay moved in with her mother and worked as a telephone operator to help pay the bills. She and Ken knew what hard work, sacrifice, and commitment were all about living through WWII and carving out a life together. They truly were a part of the “greatest generation.”
Ken safely returned home from the war and their lives returned to normal. A few years later they were blessed with a son, Randy. Gay settled down into the role of a full-time homemaker, wife, and mother.
Gay was an incredible seamstress. She would go down to the square and walk around Heer’s Department store examining the clothing. When she found something that she liked, she would simply go home, create her own pattern, and make it herself…..and it looked professional. She spent many happy hours behind the hum of her sewing machine creating clothing for all of her family.
The kitchen was also a place where Gay excelled. She loved to cook and bake. She developed quite a reputation for her pecan pie and triple-layered cakes. It wasn’t until recent years that she decided to share her recipes with her family and agreed to have a family cook book compiled.
Gay was a faithful servant. She accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age. She and Ken became members of High Street Baptist Church in the early 1950’s and they remained faithful until their declining health prevented them from attending. Over the years their home was the gathering place for college students, missionaries, visiting pastors, and church family. Many meals were lovingly prepared and served, laughter abounded, and life-lasting friendships were made. Their love for the Lord spilled out on everyone’s lives they touched.
She had a fierceness about her. Especially when it came to her family. A fierce love…… and a fierce protectiveness. She was the Cantrell Matriarch and the center of family activity for many, many years. She loved and protected them all to the best of her ability and there was no question that Grandma had their backs.
Seven years ago Gay and Kenny moved into their son Randy’s home. It became their home as well….and it was “at home” that she died peacefully last week. She leaves behind her husband Kenneth, a son, Randy (Linda), six grandchildren (Ryan Cantrell, Lori Hackworth (Josh), Kirk Evans (Cindy), Susan Connolly (Stan), and Scott Evans (Penny). Fourteen great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, seven step great-grandchildren, extended family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, sister (Wanda), brother (Aldon) daughter (Linda), and grandson (Clinton Cantrell).
The family would especially like to thank the caregivers that took such excellent care of Gay these past four months (Deanna, Cheri, and Stephanie), and for the kindness and support of Cox Health at Home in her final days.