Maxine Gay Asel

Maxine Gay Raymond-Asel December 27,2025 Heaven received my Angel, Gay. Born in Jamestown, New York, May 22, 1950 to Beverly and Richard Raymond. An intelligent and athletic student in the Jamestown school system where she did not shy away from any challenge by taking the advanced courses while cheerleading and synchronized swimming. Gay and John rekindled a relationship in1978 during a class reunion and were married one year later on June 16, 1979. Because of her husband’s job opportunities, moved from Jamestown to Quincy, IL, until eventually setting anchor in Columbus,IN in 1983. Known for her cooking skills, she would entertain friends on special occasions, with her prime rib dinners and Yorkshire Pudding. When international colleagues would come to town, Gay would not shy away from having them over for dinner to some good ol’ American cuisine. One year there were international visitors from England, Brazil and Japan in Columbus over the Thanksgiving holiday. Gay decided to have them all, complete with their spouses and any children who also came along, over for an American Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. A great time was had by all. Gay’s career brought out her many bookkeeping skills, from Robert Hall’s to Kelso Drug Store, to Dolly Madison, to John Freed-Farmers Insurance . Gay loved her animals. Her horse, Dutchess and all her beagles, Cissy, George, Sherlock, Gypsy, Taffy and Tilly, all with Gay at the Rainbow Bridge. Many days Gay would head to the stable, if nothing else, to just groom and love on her horse. Always with a smile and warm greeting to all her ‘Barn Buddies’. Then she would come home and spend time with her dogs and still have terrific meals for hubby. Gay loved going to the beaches in North, South Carolina and Virginia where we would have a week of family vacations during the summers. Enjoying the family and all the new additions. Gay is survived by her brother Gregory Raymond, in Jamestown, NY, and a step-son John Christopher Asel in San Antonio, TX. Can’t miss her grandsons, Alex and Max in San Antonio TX. She has nieces and nephews spread all across the US from New York, Pennsylvania. Virginia, Florida, Texas, Arkansas, Colorado, and Illinois.This is why she enjoys the family summer vacations. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, January 3, 2026 at Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home, Columbus, IN, with Bill Ellison officiating. Calling hours will be from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Gay will be laid to rest, 1 p.m. Monday, January 5, 2026 at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Lakewood, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to the Bartholomew County Humaine Society through the funeral home.