May 29, 1944 –

Sept. 27, 2011

Gay Hatcher DeBakey, 67 of Leander, Texas, formerly of Bainbridge, died Sept. 27, 2011, after a brave battle with cancer.

She was born to E.W. Hatcher and Varina Legalley Hatcher on May 29,1944, in Houston,Texas, but spent the first part of her childhood in Bainbridge, where she often revisited family and friends. In junior high she moved back to Houston where she lived until 1994. That is when she moved her own family to Leander.

Gay worked as a Passenger and Cargo Reservations Agent for Pan-American World Airways for 13 years. She married Duane Frank DeBakey on Dec. 12, 1979 and was a loving wife and mother. She was married 31 years and raised two daughters and helped to care for her two granddaughters. She also enjoyed gardening, listening to music, horseback riding and caring for her animals.

The thing that Gay enjoyed more than anything else was spending time with family. Thanksgiving and Christmas were very special to her because all of the family would be together. If she could get the kids and grandkids together on Sunday for dinner, she was thrilled. Any reason to bring the family together was a good one. Nothing made her happier than having the family all together under one roof.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Walon.

Survivors include her husband, Duane DeBakey, beloved daughters, Jennifer DeBakey and Katherine DeBakey, both of Leander, and her two granddaughters, Sierra and Angie. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Lauren and Don Hansen, of Bynum, Mont. and her brother, Kevin Hatcher of San Antonio, Texas. Other loving relatives include Sherri DeBakey (sister in law) of Houston, Texas, and Aaron Guerrero and family of Katy, Texas.

Wrench Funeral Home & Cremations of Leander, Texas was in charge of the arrangements.