Gael "Gay" (McDearmon) Conway

Gael (Gay) Conway nee McDearmon was born in St Paul, MN on November 7, 1937 to Mahlon(Mac) and Irma Bipes McDearmon. She spent her early years surrounded by horses, dogs, and polo ponies living at the Daniels estate on Gem Lake where her father was a Horseman. Later, the family moved to their home on Coon Creek near Coon Rapids. She is a 1955 graduate of Anoka High School and attended Hamline University where she met her love, Jim Conway. An only child herself, she married into the large Conway family of St Paul and was especially close to her sisters-in-law. Jim and Gay raised their 5 kids in the Como area of St Paul and spent much of their free time at their cabin near Park Rapids. Gay worked for St Paul Public Schools (AFCSME MN Council 5) for many years and touched countless people’s lives as the secretary of Chelsea Heights School. Gay found her Parish home in The Church of the Assumption where she was a member of the choir and a funeral lunch lady. Gay had an especially bright personality. She loved getting people’s stories and had a knack of making people feel understood and recognized. She remembered everyone by name and treated all people with equal dignity. She is preceded in death by her parents, Irma and Mac, and her loving spouse, Jim. She is survived by her children Chris (Natalie), Linda Bertrand(Roger), Mary Jo Fritsche (Thomas), Scott(Molly), and Cathleen Jensen(Eric), her nine grandchildren: Caitlin and Shaine(Mai) Conway, Sam and Julia Conway, Nick, Andy, and Erin(Tom) Bertrand, and Anna and Laura Fritsche, great-granddaughter Hailey, many nieces and nephews who visited frequently in her final years, as well as many, many dear friends including her daily cribbage partners, Jane and Betty. The family extends our deepest gratitude to the healthcare team from Allina Palliative care and Allina Hospice especially RNs Joan and Carrie. For those who would like to donate a memorial, the family would appreciate donations in Gay’s name to her beloved Your Classical MPR FM KSJN https://support.mpr.org/YC-web

Wake will be held 3/20/25 4-7pm at O’Halloran & Murphy in St Paul. Funeral Mass at 10am at the Church of the Assumption in St Paul on 3/21/25.

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