Gay Verlea Orita, 80, of Lebanon, died Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, in Lebanon.
She was born Oct. 27, 1940, in Hazelgree to Alvin Everett and Irene Walker Hawkins.
On May 7, 1960, she was married to Felomino “Phil” Orita.
She is preceded in death by her parents and one great-grandson, Wyatt Allee.
Gay graduated from Lebanon High School in the class of 1958. As a teenager, she worked at Nelson Hotel for several years. After graduating from high school, she attended St. John’s School of Nursing from 1958-1960.
She was a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church.
Gay Verlea Orita is survived by her husband Phil Orita; Her children, Cynthia T. Orita of Richland, Christine B. Concepcion and her husband John of Richland, Phillip K. Orita and his wife Khamphiou of Lebanon, and Nani Lehua O. Wilde and her husband James Jr., of Nevada; two brothers, Al Hawkins and his wife Donna of Osage Beach and James Hawkins of Weaver, Iowa; several grandchildren; great grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; nieces and nephews, other relatives and dear friends.
Funeral mass for Gay Verlea Orita will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, 20202, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church with Father David Miller officiating. Burial will be at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery under the direction of Shadel’s Colonial Chapel of Lebanon.
Rosary services will begin at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, with visitation to follow at Shadel’s Colonial Chapel. Under the guidelines of the CDC and the state of Missouri, the funeral home asks people observe social distancing and proper hygiene. Please wear masks.
Memorials have been suggested in memory of Gay, be made to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church or to Hazelgreen Cemetery, and donations can be left at or mailed to Shadel’s Colonial Chapel, at P.O. Box 948, Lebanon, MO 65536.
Online condolences can be sent at www.memorialchapelsandcrematory.com.
