Jill Ann (Gay) Woodworth

Jill Ann (Gay) Woodworth, age 51, of Battle Creek very unexpectedly passed into eternal rest on Monday, February 25, 2019. She was born March 31, 1967 the daughter of Robert W. and Lucille A. (Gray) Gay in Kalamazoo and grew up in Richland.

Jill was a 1985 graduate of Gull Lake High School and went on to earn a degree in Elementary and Special Education from Nazareth College in 1989. That fall, she embarked on a thirty-year career, teaching at Climax-Scotts Elementary School. She was adored by her co-workers and the parents of her students, but most of all by the hundreds of young people she nurtured and loved over the years. Several of her former students have said they went into teaching because of Jill.

One of Jill's greatest pleasures in life was spending time with her family and traveling to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Above all, her greatest joy was her two daughters, whom she has guided to become beautiful, accomplished young ladies.

Jill was preceded in death by her father, Robert Gay; her step-mother, Lenny Gay; as well as her special aunt, Vera Robinson. She is survived by her mother Lucille "Lucy" Gay of Richland, her husband of 24 years, Jeffrey A. Woodworth; and her daughters, Megan and Rebecca. Also surviving are her brother-in-law, Scott Woodworth of Austin, TX; her sister-in-law, Suzanne (Charles) Thomas of Hastings; and many beloved aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. And we cannot forget her loving four-legged sidekick, "Maggie"!

A memorial service to celebrate Jill's life will be held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 2nd at the 20th St. Church of Christ, 122 N. 20th Street Battle Creek, MI 49015. The family will receive friends 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, March 1st at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Battle Creek, 105 Capital Ave. NE Battle Creek, MI 49017. Memorial contributions made to the family to help establish an education fund for Jill's girls, would be appreciated. Personal messages for the family and/or favorite memories of Jill may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.