Gay Nita (Parli) Grimm, 64, formerly of Sabetha and Emporia Kansas, completed her earthly journey to rejoice with her eternal Father and forever family on Saturday, December 27, 2014 at Flower Mound, Texas after a courageous battle with brain cancer.

Gay was born on March 3, 1950 at the Sabetha hospital to Earl and Edna (Hinton) Parli. She was the third of four children.

Gay married her high school sweetheart, James Wilbur Grimm in 1968.

Gay received her Associates degree from Highland County Community College, then completed her Bachelors of Education at Peru State College. She received her Masters in English at Emporia State University.

Gay worked at Sabetha High School prior to moving to Emporia, Kansas in 1991 She taught social science at Madison High School until 1993, where she continued her teaching career at Emporia High School in the English department until her retirement. Gay also taught various classes at Butler County and Allen County Community College.

She was also an active member of the Sabetha & Emporia communities. Gay stayed busy in her church family throughout her life by teaching Bible school, being involved in children’s and music ministry, and serving alongside her family. She was a member of First Baptist Church Justin. Gay sang in choirs, played organ, and could often be found making meals or preparing special gifts for those she loved. Gay was known for her smile, her laugh and her generosity.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Grimm; her parents, Earl & Edna Parli; her sister Earlene Long; her brother Larry Parli; and a grandchild.

She is survived by two daughters, Jamie Jo Smith and her husband, Mike of Kansas City, Missouri; Dawnya Gay Tabor and her husband, Bobby of Justin, Texas; a brother, Joe Parli and his wife, Lynn of Tulsa, Oklahoma; a grandson, Corbin Ty Smith of Kansas City, Missouri; as well as nieces, nephews, and dear cousins.

Funeral Services will be Friday, January 2, 2015 at 2:00 pm at Popkess Mortuary in Sabetha. Visitation will be prior to services from 1:30 p.m. until service time at the Popkess Mortuary. Interment will be at Sabetha Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be left to the Gay Nita Grimm Memorial Fund, which the family will designate at a later date.? www.popkessmortuaries.com