BALLINGER - Gay Nell Howard, 87, of Ballinger, passed away on Oct. 16, 2026, at the Sterling Hills Nursing Home in Sweetwater. She was born Sept. 18, 1939, to Marty and Ruth Jarrett and was a graduate of Ballinger High School. She married Wayne Howard on June 13, 1958. They were married for 41 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Marty and Ruth Jarrett; her husband, Wayne Howard; and her granddaughter, Kaci Howard.
Gay Nell worked in the nursing home industry for more than 35 years and was a member of Glory Road Cowboy Church. She enjoyed her little dogs, flower arranging, painting, gardening, and cooking.
She is survived by her sons, Jeff Howard and wife Melissa of Sweetwater, Lee Howard and wife Ronda of Tarzan, and Mike Howard and wife Kathy of Rowena; and her six grandchildren, Candice Poole and her husband, Tanner; Kelsi Eaves and her husband, Kirby; Wade Howard and his wife, Liz; and Kyle Howard and his wife, Maddison.
She is also survived by six great-grandchildren: Jaylee and Jozee Poole, Kollins and Jagger Howard, and Lennyn and Shaefer Eaves.
Pallbearers will be her grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers will be her great-grandchildren and her honorary granddaughter Allison Sharp.
A visitation for Gay will be Oct. 22, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 pm at Lange Funeral Home in Ballinger. Her funeral service will be Oct. 23, at 1:30 pm at Glory Road Cowboy Church in Ballinger, with Myron Halford and Marty Akins officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Glory Road Cowboy Church in Gay’s honor.