Gay Webster Hill Ongley

Gay Webster Hill Ongley passed away peacefully Monday, April 24, 2023, in Bountiful, Utah. She was 88 years old.

Gay was born in Kaysville, Utah, on September 15, 1934, to Leonard Hill and Martha Blanche Webster Hill. She grew up with four siblings, two brothers and two sisters. Mom spent her childhood growing up on the family farm in Kaysville, Utah. She helped gather eggs, raise geese, and tended to the animals as she enjoyed and thrived on all the sights and sounds of the farm. Being the youngest child, she got away with just about everything. She learned her famous pie-making skills while observing her mother cooking non-stop in their farmhouse kitchen, feeding her daddy and all the farm hands at their kitchen table. It was often said that Mom made the best pies in Davis County.

School was not a favorite pastime in Gay's life. She often told the story about when the district supervisor came to the classroom periodically when she was in grade school. Her teacher would allow her to walk across the street to stay with the teacher's mom until the supervisor left the school. Mom was terrified of that supervisor and obviously had her teacher wrapped around her little finger. Gay graduated from Davis High School in Kaysville. There she formed many treasured friendships she enjoyed her entire life. While in high school, she had the honor of being named Kaysville Carnival Queen. Gay met Gary Scott Ongley while attending Davis High School. They were married December 26, 1952, in the Salt Lake Temple. They moved to Biloxi, Mississippi, as Gary was stationed at Keesler Air Force Base. Many dear life-long friendships were made there. Their first two daughters were born there. Mom and Dad eventually made their home in Bountiful, Utah, where they were blessed with two more daughters and two sons. Gary's work eventually took them to California and Washington for several years. Gay formed precious friendships there which she cherished all her life. She made friends wherever she went.

Gay enjoyed being a homemaker. She loved her six babies and kept busy chasing them as they grew up. She loved cooking up a storm making heartfelt hot meals, buttery rolls, and mouth-watering desserts. Her chocolate chip cookies and traveling cookies were famous among her children and grandchildren. She loved mowing the lawn with the rotary mower and she prided herself in removing any difficult laundry stain she encountered. She was a seamstress and hand embroidered the names of her children on many uniforms and items of clothing. She was a "plant lady" and loved the challenge of bringing them back to life and watching them grow. She loved planting flowers of all types and tending to them meticulously. She also enjoyed feeding countless birds in her well-stocked bird feeders.

Mom took extremely good care of everything she owned, never letting anything go to waste. She loved shoes and had countless pairs in every color and style imaginable. She never left home without her lipstick on. She loved wearing bright-colored clothing which fit her personality perfectly. She was an accomplished bowler and enjoyed being in a league for many years. Gay also spent several years as a receptionist and all who met her loved her quick wit and thoughtful kindness. Gay was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in various callings. She was not afraid to get her hands dirty chopping wood at girls camp or ward outings. While residing in Washington, she was affectionately known as Paula Bunyan. 

In her later years, Gay met a dear friend, Raul Lucero. They spent several sweet years together enjoying each other's company and taking care of each other until his passing. 

Gay is survived by her six children: Brenda Gray, Dalyn Van Tussenbrook (Dale), Sandy Sutherland Brown (Lynn), Jill Graham (Ron), Scott Ongley (Cecelia), and Ryan Ongley (Lisa-deceased). She is also survived by 17 sweet grandchildren, 39 amazing great-grandchildren with two on the way, a former son-in-law Elton Sutherland (Kathy), one sister-in-law Margene Hill and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband Gary Scott Ongley, her parents Leonard and Blanche Hill, brothers Glen and Junior Hill, and sisters Jean Brink and Odessa Harris.

Mom endured many obstacles during her life but always kept her unique sense of humor. She is an example of perseverance and truly enduring to the end. We love and miss you Mom, Mama, "Moozie", Grandma, and Great-Grandma. May you take in and enjoy all the beautiful songbirds, snowstorms, and harmonious rain showers that you love from your new perspective in your heavenly home. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at the Bountiful 36th Ward Chapel, 102 East 1400 South, Bountiful, Utah. Friends and family may call from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, May 1, 2023, at Russon Mortuary, 295 N. Main Street in Bountiful and on Tuesday morning from 9:45-10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be at the Bountiful City Cemetery, 2224 South 200 West.

Mom and her family would like to thank her kind and devoted friends at Barton Creek Assisted Living.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin 10-15 minutes prior to the services and will be posted below.