Mary Frances "Chic" (Gay) Faulkner Clemons

With great sorrow we announce the passing of our dear mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.  Mary Frances "Chic" Gay Faulkner Clemons, 80, of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, transitioned to her eternal home on Monday morning, October 2, 2023.  She was born in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky on December 31, 1942 to the late James and Martha Webb Gay.   

Chic was a native of Montgomery County.  She was a 1960 graduate of Mt. Sterling High School and always considered herself a Trojan.  After high school, she attended Virginia Intermont College, earned a BS degree from the University of Kentucky in English and Secondary Education, and continued her education at Morehead State University where she matriculated with a master's degree and Rank 1 in Secondary Education.  She was a natural and gifted teacher where she served the students of Montgomery County for 29 years. After retiring from public education, she continued to teach English at Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington, KY. In the classroom, she loved each of her students.  She was passionate about her profession and a champion for the underdog.  Chic cultivated the many talents of her students as she directed multiple plays, coached speech and drama, and sponsored Kentucky Youth Assembly and Kentucky United Nations Assembly at both the junior and senior levels. Chic instilled in each student life-long lessons in confidence, maturity, good sense, and kindness. For many years, Chic devoted her time and energy to Love of Paws and animal rescue.  She was a voracious reader, supported the arts, participated in local theater productions, loved attending sporting events and cheering on her UK Wildcats.  Chic's favorite memories involved beach vacations and SEC basketball tournament trips with her family.  She was an active member of First Christian Church Mt. Sterling where she assisted with Bible School and other children’s ministries. Chic never met a stranger. She was a devoted and loyal friend. She gave advice without judgment. Her presence will be dearly missed by her family, friends, and loving dog-Carly Cate. Chic lived with a servant’s heart in all that she did.  

Chic is survived by her two daughters, Jeanne Elizabeth Lane (Steve) of Mt. Sterling and Laura Gay Faulkner of  Louisville; three grandchildren, Stephanie Lane Colbert (Jacob Cale) of Winchester, James Christopher Bettger (Kelsey) of Louisville and Davis Bettger of Louisville; two great grandsons, James Lane Colbert and Jacob Wylie Colbert, both of Winchester; brother, William Ragan Gay (Sue Ann) of Mt. Sterling; nephew Jim Gay (Cheryl) of Mt. Sterling; niece, Beth Gay Smiley (Jim) of Livonia, Michigan; great nieces, Laura Ragan Gay of Lexington, Lauren Elizabeth Smiley and Alison Grace Smiley, both of Livonia, Michigan; great nephew, James Harrison Gay of Mt. Sterling, numerous cousins; and a special caretaker Mary Jewell.   

In addition to her parents, Chic was preceded in death by her husband, David Wayne Clemons and her loving dog, Annie. 

A Celebration of Life service will take place at 2:00PM on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at Sterling Meadows 209 N Maysville Street, Mt. Sterling, Kentucky 40353.  Pastor Scott Holley will be officiating.  Graveside service and committal will follow on Monday, October 9, 2023 at Machpelah Cemetery.  Pastor Scott Holley and Father Norman Fischer will be officiating.

Donations can be made to First Christian Church 222 West Main Street Mt. Sterling, Kentucky 40353 or Love of Paws 250 Bedford Road, Jeffersonville, Kentucky 40337.  

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