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 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 19, 2018 with visitation at 9:00 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.