Gay Winnifred Hayford McLain

Gay Winnifred Hayford McLain

Gay McLain, 80, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. She and her husband Richard had just moved back to Havre from Enumclaw, Wash. three weeks ago. Her funeral mass will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, at St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Dale Yurkovic officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at St. Jude Catholic Church Parish immediately after the service. Memorial contributions in Gay's honor may be made to the St. Jude Parish or to the Hayford Scholarship at 330 3rd St. NE, Mayville, ND 58257. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.

Gay was born Feb. 16, 1930, in Mayville, N.D., to Walter "Babe" and Gail (Larson) Hayford. She was raised and educated in Mayville and attended a teaching college where she obtained her teaching certificate. She married Richard James McLain June 29, 1952. Richard was in the military, and the couple moved many places such as Finley, N.D.; Rapid City, S.D.; Great Falls, Mont.; and Havre, Mont., where they settled and Richard went to work for the Great Northern/Burlington Northern Railroad until he retired, and the couple lived between Hanes City, Fla., and Enumclaw, Wash.

Gay was proud to be a loving wife and mother. She enjoyed staying home with her children and participating in their activities. Gay always had large holiday dinners at her home. She loved entertaining. The "McLains" were always known to have their coffee pot on and many people would stop by for a cup of coffee and conversation. In later years, Gay prided herself on spoiling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a gentle woman who had the patience of a saint.

In her spare time, Gay enjoyed sewing, painting, gardening, blowing, golfing and cake decorating, and also liked to go hunting and fishing with Richard. After Richard retired from the railroad, the couple traveled all over the United States. At their 50th wedding anniversary, the only state that they hadn't been to was Hawaii, so their children sent them to Hawaii for their 50th Anniversary.

She was preceded in death by her parents Walter "Babe" and Gail Hayford; brother Clayton Hayford; brothers-in-law, Pat McLain, Kress Odle, Joe Padilla and Courtney Smith; and sisters-in-law, Loretta Hayford, Donna Davies and Rita Odle.

Gay is survived by her husband of 58 years Richard James McLain of Havre, Mont., her sons, Butch (Joni) McLain of Lakewood, Wash., and Jim (Jessica) McLain of Maple Valley, Wash.; daughter Monica (Travis) Abdallah of Havre, Mont.; grandchildren, Shawn and Brianna McLain, Tony (Trista) Omlie, Tyler and Tanner Abdallah, and Brandon McLain; great-grandchildren, Nathan, Madisyn and Drew Oswald, Spencer Thompson, Taylor and Devlin Guse, and Lucas and Brooke Omlie; brothers, Mylo (Maggie) Hayford and Guy Hayford; sisters, Nancy Smith, Susan (Bernard "Bernie") McPherson, Sharon (John) Reynolds and Carol (Bob) Hefta; sisters-in

Gay McLain, 80, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. She and her husband Richard had just moved back to Havre from Enumclaw, Wash. three weeks ago. Her funeral mass will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, at St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Dale Yurkovic officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at St. Jude Catholic Church Parish immediately after the service. Memorial contributions in Gay's honor may be made to the St. Jude Parish or to the Hayford Scholarship at 330 3rd St. NE, Mayville, ND 58257. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.

Gay was born Feb. 16, 1930, in Mayville, N.D., to Walter "Babe" and Gail (Larson) Hayford. She was raised and educated in Mayville and attended a teaching college where she obtained her teaching certificate. She married Richard James McLain June 29, 1952. Richard was in the military, and the couple moved many places such as Finley, N.D.; Rapid City, S.D.; Great Falls, Mont.; and Havre, Mont., where they settled and Richard went to work for the Great Northern/Burlington Northern Railroad until he retired, and the couple lived between Hanes City, Fla., and Enumclaw, Wash.

Gay was proud to be a loving wife and mother. She enjoyed staying home with her children and participating in their activities. Gay always had large holiday dinners at her home. She loved entertaining. The "McLains" were always known to have their coffee pot on and many people would stop by for a cup of coffee and conversation. In later years, Gay prided herself on spoiling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a gentle woman who had the patience of a saint.

In her spare time, Gay enjoyed sewing, painting, gardening, blowing, golfing and cake decorating, and also liked to go hunting and fishing with Richard. After Richard retired from the railroad, the couple traveled all over the United States. At their 50th wedding anniversary, the only state that they hadn't been to was Hawaii, so their children sent them to Hawaii for their 50th Anniversary.

She was preceded in death by her parents Walter "Babe" and Gail Hayford; brother Clayton Hayford; brothers-in-law, Pat McLain, Kress Odle, Joe Padilla and Courtney Smith; and sisters-in-law, Loretta Hayford, Donna Davies and Rita Odle.

Gay is survived by her husband of 58 years Richard James McLain of Havre, Mont., her sons, Butch (Joni) McLain of Lakewood, Wash., and Jim (Jessica) McLain of Maple Valley, Wash.; daughter Monica (Travis) Abdallah of Havre, Mont.; grandchildren, Shawn and Brianna McLain, Tony (Trista) Omlie, Tyler and Tanner Abdallah, and Brandon McLain; great-grandchildren, Nathan, Madisyn and Drew Oswald, Spencer Thompson, Taylor and Devlin Guse, and Lucas and Brooke Omlie; brothers, Mylo (Maggie) Hayford and Guy Hayford; sisters, Nancy Smith, Susan (Bernard "Bernie") McPherson, Sharon (John) Reynolds and Carol (Bob) Hefta; sisters-in