Sylvia Gay Gant, age 78 passed away from this world November 26, 2021, at Regional Hospital in Popular Bluff, Missouri. She was born in Washburn, Maine on May 14, 1943, to Beulah Mae Maskell of Washburn, Maine and Bruce Edward Gant of Osceola, Arkansas.
The family relocated to Dudley, Missouri in 1946. Sylvia attended the Dudley School House and graduated from Dexter High School in 1961 where she was Valedictorian of her class. She studied education at Southeast Missouri State University and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPA. She also received her Master’s Degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University - Cape Girardeau in 1965.
She began her 33-year distinguished teaching career in 1965 at Fox C-6 School District in Arnold, Missouri. She was a committed instructor in the history department where she taught course work in American and World History. She was a popular and beloved teacher by hundreds of students throughout the years. Upon her retirement from teaching in 1997 she relocated back home to Dudley, Missouri. Retirement allowed her the time to serve as the historian for the family and she spent much of her free time as an avid genealogy researcher. She also enjoyed traveling, gardening, and quilting. In all ways, she was devoted to caring for her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents Marvin and Mary Jane Gant of Dudley, Missouri and Donald and Harriet (Hattie) Maskell of Washburn, Maine; and parents Bruce and Beulah Mae Gant of Dudley, Missouri.
She is survived by her brother Richard Dennis Gant and sister-in-law Arvella (Tracy) (Wilson) Gant of Dexter, Missouri and their son Chris Eric Holcomb of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She is also survived by her sisters Donna Maxine (Gant) Barker, of Dudley Missouri and Mary Elaine (Gant) Wagner of Winter Park, FL. Her niece Janelle (Barker) Gibson of Webster Groves, Missouri and great nephew Gant Hunter Gibson and great niece Mary Genevieve Gibson are also survived.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, December 3, 2021, from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
Graveside services will then be conducted in the Dudley Cemetery on Friday, December 3, 2021, at 12:00 p.m.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
