Ethlyn Gray (Essie Gay) Hughes McGuire of Clifton Forge, Virginia passed away at Goodwin House in Falls Church, Virginia on February 28, 2013. She was married for over 59 years to Major Robert Wayne McGuire who died in 2004. She was preceded in death by her parents, Moreau Dessaix and Minnie Gray McKemy Hughes, an infant son Robert Wayne McGuire Jr, one sister and three brothers. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Gay and David Holmes. She is also survived by her sister, Josephine Elizabeth Hughes Dellinger, five nieces, four great nieces, and two great nephews. Essie Gay was born July 21, 1921 in Clifton Forge but grew up in the Kerr's Creek area of Rockbridge County. She graduated from Lexington High School, and shortly afterwards moved back to Clifton Forge with her family. She completed a two-year business course which led to employment at the Coca Cola Bottling Company where she was a secretary and later a bookkeeper. During this time she met and married her husband who served in the European Theatre of Operations in World War II as a B-17 pilot. After the war he was recalled to the Air Force, and as a military wife she lived in various places in the United States including Alaska and Hawaii, and in the Far East. When her husband retired from the military they returned to Clifton Forge. The Church and its activities were always an important part of her life. She became a member of the Clifton Forge Presbyterian Church, also the Sara-Lin Bible Class and Circle No. 2. She taught Sunday school both in Clifton Forge and during the years her husband served in the Air Force. She wrote the Church's history each year for fourteen years and was chairperson of the Historical Room in the Clifton Forge Presbyterian Church. This effort served to enrich the life of members of the Church and was an inspiration to members of other churches in the community. She wrote and published the book "Our Church Remembers" with her sister Josephine Dellinger in 2001 recalling highlights of the Church's mission and those who participated from 1981-2001. She particularly enjoyed working with children, tutoring and teaching them to read. She especially enjoyed this activity in Okinawa where she taught Japanese children and young people to read English. She was an avid gardener, a talented seamstress, and a gifted oil painter. A graveside funeral service will be held on Saturday at 2:00 PM in Mountain View Cemetery, Clifton Forge with Reverend Tom Reynolds officiating. Interment will follow. The family will receive friends on Saturday afternoon from 1:00 PM until time of service at Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Mountain Regional Hospice, P. O. Box 637, 537 Main Street, Clifton Forge or Clifton Forge Presbyterian Church, 544 Church Street, Clifton Forge, Virginia.