Loweda Gaymerle Tunnell's Obituary
Gay Tunnell passed away on January 12, 2017 at the age of 91. She was born on April 23, 1925 in Nat, Texas to Guy and Ellen Clayton. Gay grew up in the small east Texas town of Nat. She always enjoyed sports and loved to play volleyball. Her junior high team at Nat were the district champions. She also excelled in volleyball in high school in Cushing, Texas. She graduated from Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College with a degree in physical education in just 3 years. To help pay her way through college, she was employed as a welder by the Hughes Tool Company during her summer breaks during WWII. She started her first teaching job in Van, Texas. As coach for the Van Vandals, her team was undefeated champions. One day while at the Van gym, a young man shooting baskets caught her eye. She ended up marrying that man, Robbie Mack Tunnell, and they were married for over 64 years. Enjoying all types of sports among other things along the way. They started their married life in the West Texas town of Silver, living in a Sun Oil Company refinery community village. Gay resumed her teaching career in the nearby town of Colorado City. They moved to Richardson in 1960, and Gay continued her career at Richardson High School teaching physical education and overseeing the pep squad and cheerleaders. She loved teaching and coaching and had such a positive influence on so many student’s lives. Gay transferred over to Berkner High School in 1976, where she organized and ran the in-school detention program.. After retiring from Berkner, she volunteered at Baylor/Richardson Hospital for over 20 years. Gay loved all kinds of sports. She could talk about the Rangers, the Stars, the Cowboys, or the Mavericks with equal knowledge and enthusiasm. She was equally a fan of any Big 12 sporting event. She also loved the Olympics as well as talking “politics”. She loved family gatherings and loved to make her famous cornbread dressing at Thanksgiving and Christmas. She was especially proud of her family. Anyone who came into the house, learned all about her grandchildren and great-grandchildren complete with photos. Gay was preceded in death by two brothers Alton Clayton of Baytown and Kermit Clayton of Conroe. Gay is survived by her husband Robbie Mack Tunnell of Richardson. She is also survived by her son Rob Tunnell and his wife Roseanne, daughter Teresa Beaver, and daughter Terrie Stroud and her husband David. Gay is also survived by her 3 precious grandchildren Erin Wiedmaier and her husband Chris, John Tunnell and his wife Jade and Jordan Tunnell as well as 4 great-grandchildren Luke, Cody, Clayton, and Juliet. She also had many nieces and nephews that she loved to stay in touch with. Her family and friends will miss her great sense of humor, her wit,-she was just a fun person to be around. She was such a strong and independent woman and an inspiration to so many. The service for Loweda Tunnell will be held at 3:00 PM, Tuesday, January 17, 2017 in The Wildwood Chapel at Restland Funeral Home with a viewing and family gathering 1 hour prior to the service. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, at Restland Road, Dallas, TX 75243.
What’s your fondest memory of Loweda?
What’s a lesson you learned from Loweda?
Share a story where Loweda's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Loweda you’ll never forget.
How did Loweda make you smile?