Gay Blanchard

On December 5, 1925, heaven delivered a precious child to Irvin T. Nelson and Julia Kathleen Bagley. This curious and spirited child was christened Lila Gay Nelson. She grew up in the Cottonwood Holladay area surrounded by her father’s beautiful gardens and fascinated with all the natural wonders God had created. She graduated from Granite High School in 1943 with honors and was determined to leave home to continue her education. Her father was hesitant to send Lila Gay away to college, but her mother and grandmother (Amanda Neff Bagley) were her advocates in this endeavor, besides she had earned a small scholarship for having won the state shorthand competition. She went off to Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University) during the horrors of World War II. Because of the war, men on campus were scarce. She however, caught the attention of a handsome Naval Airman from Idaho named Daren Blanchard, who was allowed to attend college while awaiting flight training. They fell madly in love. Shortly after the war they were married in the Salt Lake Temple and went on to have 6 children Ted, Andrea, Lindy Lu, Bonnie Gay, Rodney and Mary Angela.

While managing a household with 6 curious and spirited children of her own, she managed to co-write and compose the music for 2 musicals. She wrote hundreds of Poems including “In Heaven’s Spring” which won First Prize in the Relief Society Poetry Contest in 1967. She was a deep thinker and constantly yearned for further light and knowledge which she acquired through persistence and long suffering. She rejoiced in sharing her insights and Love Energy with all who would open their heart and listen. Her enlightenment and wisdom are available to all in her books: Tell It Like It Is (Published by Bookcraft), The God I Know, The Infinite Dance and The Energy of Love. Gay was a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ and a living example of the pure love of Christ. She became a light of inspiration and an example of pure love energy to her 24 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren, who love her dearly.

On August 15th 2026 at the age of 100, heaven called her back home where she was reunited with her husband, her parents, her siblings Teddy, Joy, Rene and Fred, a host of friends and relatives and of course her Savior, Jesus Christ.

She transitioned to the next life peacefully at home with Lindy, Bonnie and Angela at her side. The last few days she was often reaching upwards sensing an abundance of love energy from loved ones beyond the veil and the loved ones she would be leaving behind. Bonnie and Angi have been her primary care providers for the past 2-1/2 years. She suffered no underlying illness it was just time to go home. Her last words were, “Thank You and I Love You”.

As her children, we would like to welcome you to join us in celebrating the generous gift she has been for the past 100 years . Services will be at 2080 East 5165 South, Holladay, UT. An open house viewing will be held in her honor, Thursday, August 27th from 6 to 8 pm at the church. Her memorial service will be Friday, August 28th at 10AM. A graveside dedication will follow at Elysian Gardens, 1075 E. 4580 S. at noon.

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