Gay Laverne Dunham, 90, of Festus died Feb. 9, 2025, at Evelyn’s House in Creve Coeur. Mrs. Dunham was a 1952 graduate of Festus High School, a retired rural mail carrier of 22 years with the Festus Post Office and was a charter member of Faith Baptist Church in Festus. Born March 6, 1934, in Festus, she was the daughter of the late Hattie Ellen (Forshee) and Marvin Henry Sago.
She was preceded in death by her husband: James Royce “Jim” Dunham.
She is survived by a daughter: Debbie (Todd) Gurnow of Festus; two sons: Stanley (Samantha) Dunham of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Steven (Nancy) Dunham of Union; five grandchildren: Katrina (Curtis) Fox, Andrew Dunham, Stephanie (Brendan) Hendricks, Matt (Nicole) Gurnow and Tim (fiancee Sarah Stock) Gurnow; four great-grandchildren: Kael Fox, Elethea Fox, Gabriel Hendricks and Luke Gurnow; and a cousin: Joy (the late Billy J.) Ellison of south St. Louis County.
She also was preceded in death by a brother: Darrell Gene (the late Lela) Sago.
Visitation is scheduled from 10 a.m. until a funeral service at noon Monday, Feb. 17, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus, officiated by Brother Matt Culbertson, Pastor of Faith Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens in Crystal City. Memorials may be made to Evelyn’s House or Faith Baptist Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.