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ELLEN GAY AUSBROOKS SRKALA GATAVI passed away peacefully on November 14, 2018 at home after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on June 22, 1944 in Little Rock Arkansas. Though living in Texas, she kept close ties with her Arkansas roots by frequently visiting beloved family and attending her 1962 Little Rock Central High School class reunions. Following graduation, she attended Santa Barbara City College in California, for a year. She earned a Bachelor of Arts, University of Arkansas, 1967 and a Master of Education, Sam Houston University, 1984.
Gay began teaching at Wakefield Elementary in Little Rock, Arkansas. Upon moving to Texas, she taught in Texas City and finally settled in Aldine ISD. Gay’s career included teaching at Grace Raymond and Ermel Elementary Schools, serving as assistant principal at Ermel and Hidden alley/Goodman Elementary and becoming Goodman’s principal until retirement in 2000. Gay garnered many awards and achievements. Among then were the Betty Scharff National Memorial Award for Outstanding School Administer by the H.O.S.T.S. Program and Texas Outstanding Principal Award by the State of Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants. Following retirement, she worked nine years as a mentor for new teachers in Aldine and developed a math program implemented in schools across Houston.
Preceding her in death are her mother, Mamie Lee Mosley Ausbrooks; first husband, Donald
Wayne Srkala; son Shane Michael Srkala; brothers Allen Ray Ausbrooks (twin) and Mac Arthur Ausbrooks; sister Lavada Lee Ausbrooks Harris. Surviving Gay are husband Don Gatavi; granddaughter Madeline Marie Allen; brother Bill Ausbrooks (Virginia); sisters Corine Ausbrooks Creasey and Shirley Ausbrooks Hamilton in addition to a host of much beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
The funeral will be held at Klein Funeral Home, 1400 West Main St. in Tomball, Texas 77375 at 10 a.m. on Monday, November 19, 2018 with visitation at 9 a.m. with Dr. Joe Blair officiating. Interment will follow at Klein Cemetery on Highway 249 with pastor Jim Godwin officiating. Following interment, a reception will be held at First Baptist Church of Cypress, 14515 Cypress North Houston Road, Cypress, Texas 77429.A
Ellen Gay Ausbrooks
Srkala Gatavi
Little Rock Central
Class of 1962
My fellow Tigers, I could not post this obituary without a word about this remarkable classmate. Gay has to be one of the most courageous graduates from our class of 1962. She fought valiantly and without complaint in an extended battle with cancer. We know her posts on social media were always upbeat and forward looking. As Mark Twain would have said of her: “She had the most sand.”
We will miss your posts, Gay.
Mike Snipes, webmaster
Just a word…