This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: marcenath Surnames: Bryan, Airington Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newmexico.counties.donaana/5051/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Gaytha Bryan, 67, of Las Cruces, passed away Thursday, December 16, 2010. Gaytha was born May 26, 1943 in Pampa, Texas, to Edwin and Elsie Airington. She was a former Correctional Officer retiring from F.C.I La Tuna, Federal Bureau of Prisons in 1997. Gaytha, her friends and family called her "Gay", was fun and outgoing. She enjoyed classic movies, musicals, history, playing Tetris and she had an infinite love for the Dallas Cowboys. Gay was one of the most interesting persons one could hope to meet, smart; she could answer nearly any trivia question put in front of her. She spent her life working to support all of her children and in the end, her will to live was a courageous and inspiring event. This world is definitely short of a good woman who loved her family and was loved by so many. The sadness is deep and humbling and should remind us that life is precious and so short. She will be missed tremendously and remembered forever. Always dealt a bad hand of cards, Gay's pe! rseverance and determination was a fine example of how we all should live our lives. Driven, honest and always with a good sense of humor she could make you laugh even in a darkest hour, there aren't enough words to express what an inspiration she has been and one could only hope to feel a fraction of the love she was capable of giving. She was beautiful, in every way there is to be beautiful. through her suffering she remained, vigilant, strong and extremently unselfish. So often life throws you curve balls and Gay never faltered, she went with it and learned from it and taught us some lessons that you can't learn from nothing else but life, one can never give up. She will be in our thoughs forever and until we meet her again, we should remember something she always said: "God wouldn't give us anything we couldn't handle", she proved that. Our mother, our friend, your love was unconditional and we'll see you when we get there. Preceded in death by her father, Thomas Edwin Airington. She is survived by her mother, Elsie Airington, Children: Denise O'Neal, Tammy Mays and her husband John, Duane Leeth, Lori Elizondo and Samantha Gamboa and her husband Rick. Brothers: Dwight Airington and his wife Sandy, Tom Airington and his wife Sylvia. She also had 13 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren and numerous neice and nephews. Special thanks to Dr. Mark Leatherwood, whom she loved, who never gave up on her and who was such a huge support throughout the years, up until the very end. You weren't just her doctor; you are a good man and her friend. Roseann Gomez your support through all of this was angelic; she couldn't have love you more if you had been her own daughter. Also, thanks to the I.C.U. nurses at Mountain View, who at such a sad time brought peace and happiness to her when she needed it the most. Services will be held Monday, December 20, 2010 at University Presbyterian Church in Las Cruces, NM: viewing at 9:00 A.M., service at 10:00 A.M., then Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at Boxwell Brother's Funeral Directors in Claude, TX at 10:00 A.M. with graveside services following at Goodnight Cemetery in Goodnight, Texas at 11:30 A.M. Services have been entrusted to La Paz - Graham's Funeral Home, 555 W. Amador Avenue, 526-6891. Published in Las Cruces Sun-News on December 19, 2010 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.