Gaye was a 1954 graduate of Hurricane, WV High School and earned an Associate of Arts degree in psychology from Morris Harvey College. She was also a graduate of the Charleston School of Commerce and worked as a secretary for Capital Finance Company as well as for the West Virginia State School Superintendent in Charleston. After her children were born, Gaye devoted her time to her family, volunteering and serving on various church and school committees. For years, she served as coordinator of the children's nursery department at Bible Center Church. She later joined Twin City Bible Church in Nitro, WV where she taught children's Sunday School classes. She and her husband became active with the Twin City teen youth group and traveled with them to numerous camps and mission trips around the country. In addition, she was actively involved in her children's academic and extracurricular pursuits and took pleasure in seeing them achieve their goals. Gaye enjoyed being outdoors, and could often be found on her front porch swing regardless of the weather. In later years, she learned to snow ski and took ice skating lessons which she pursued with a passion. She was a member of the US Figure Skating Association as well as the Charleston Figure Skating Club which allowed her to perform in local productions at the Charleston Civic Center Ice Arena. Her highest calling in life was serving her Lord by ministering to inmates in local prisons. She faithfully participated in weekly church services at South Central Regional Jail where she led many inmates to Christ. She not only ministered to these inmates, but also to their families. Countless hours were spent writing encouraging letters to the inmates, as well as taking telephone calls from them or a family member, day or night. She freely gave to them and to their families the spiritual, emotional, and financial support that so many others could not.