Gail "Gay" Kathleen Segar

Gail “Gay” Kathleen Segar, 84, passed away peacefully at home on March 9, 2026, surrounded by loved ones after a year-long battle with cancer.

Born in 1941 to Bert and Gren Stevens, Gay grew up with her sister Marcy (Norman) in Hibbing, Minnesota. She shared a remarkable, enduring love with her high school sweetheart and husband of nearly 65 years, Larry. Together they raised three children, Pete (Kim), Lori, and Rich (Marie), and delighted in their eight grandchildren—Max (Eryn), Hannah (Shane), Oscar, Madison, Hayley (Olaf), Josie, Piper, and George—and two great-grandchildren, Luna and Luca.

Gay and Larry filled their family’s life with adventure, from 1970s station wagon road trips to Disneyland and Las Vegas, visits to Bert’s ancestral home in Cornwall, special individual journeys with each grandchild, and memorable extended family vacations in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama. Her clever wit and playful spirit brought joy through mysteries, puzzles, and games that the grandchildren cherished. Gay had a remarkable gift for making every person feel valued. She remembered birthdays and anniversaries with care, often sending handwritten thank-you notes, and hosted lively gatherings ranging from gourmet club dinners to bridge games and themed family events.

An accomplished woman, Gay excelled in high school, briefly attended Macalester College before transferring to the University of North Dakota, where she graduated magna cum laude. After Pete and Lori were born in North Dakota, the family moved to Rochester in 1965. Following Rich’s birth, she taught elementary school for several years, later becoming a certified tax preparer and co-founding Accounting & Tax Associates in the 1980s. She gave generously of her time, volunteering in schools, her church, and at Methodist Hospital, while serving on the board of the AAUW, as board chair for Samaritan Bethany Nursing Home, and as treasurer for various church and charitable organizations.