Gay Nottingham Ausmus was born to Roland E. and Margaret W. Nottingham in Glendale on May 17, 1930. She completed grammar school and high school in Los Angeles County also. Her college education was obtained at the University of California at Los Angeles, graduating with a B.A. in English, minor in history in 1952. She married in July of 1952 to George E. Ausmus with whom she had three children.

Mrs. Ausmus was a 47 year resident of Thousand Oaks, best remembered as a devoted and beloved school teacher at Meadows School, Colina Junior High, Thousand Oaks High School and Westlake High School. She was often voted by students as their favorite teacher, passionate about teaching classic English literature, critical analysis and effective writing. Mrs. Ausmus' commitment to her students and goal as a teacher was to instill in her students a lifelong practice of gaining knowledge and learning. She cared equally about their personal development as individuals. She retired in 1991 ending 35 years of being a teacher.

Gay Ausmus loved the ocean and its sea life, especially sea otters and tide pool inhabitants. She held special memories and spent much of her vacation time in Carmel enjoying its rich literary history and magnificent coastline. In Carmel she also had the honor to meet and be inspired by author John Steinbeck and photographer Ansel Adams. She was an avid reader of all kinds of literature and history. Her passion for reading began when she was a young child and was often found hiding under her bed with a flashlight to read her books late into the night.

She passed away on July 21, 2010 and is survived by her three children, Elyse A. Gruber, Curtis J. Ausmus and Julia A. Pugh; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Noel N. Daily and her four children.

A memorial service and reception has been planned for 1 p.m. on Aug. 21, at the United Methodist Church, 1000 E. Janss Rd., Thousand Oaks.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be sent to the Conejo School Foundation/Gay Ausmus Memorial Fund, 1400 E. Janss Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91362, to benefit and support teachers of the Conejo Valley Unified School District, Attn: Cindy Goldberg.