Gaye Lynn O'Malley

Precious Memories

Gaye Lynn O’Malley

Those we love remain with us, for love itself lives on,

and cherished memories never fade because a loved one’s 

gone; those we love can never be more than a thought apart; 

for as long as there is memory, they’ll live on in the heart.

Born Gaye Lynn O’Malley to Pearl Hardiman-O’Malley and the late Joseph Henry O’Malley on September 13, 1958, in Denver, CO, Gaye was the oldest of three children.  Her name of Gaye was divinely chosen because she was always filled with joy and was persistent to share and demonstrate impeccable positive energy and laughter in every space that she visited.  As a young child, Gaye was never at a loss for the art of talking and conversation.  She was a happy child who would talk, talk, and talk to everyone!  She wasn’t one who liked to stay still for any lengthy period of time, but rather often asked her mother, “where are we going” because she loved to get out and visit people.  Long before she first attended school, Gaye found herself in love with her favorite amusement, the game of tennis.  One could often find Gaye on the tennis courts at Denver City Park where she was happy to deliver a defeat to anyone who challenged her to a game. 

Gaye grew up with her family in Denver’s City Park neighborhood where she was a member of Shorter AME church and where she attended Wyman Elementary, Morey Jr. High, and East High schools. She graduated from high school in 1976 and continued with her college education on a tennis scholarship at Metro State College and Rust College located in Holly Springs, Mississippi.  She continued to excel as a student athlete and received a bachelor’s degree in physical education with a minor in Mass Communications.  Upon completing college, Gaye returned home and began giving to children at Mt. St. Vincent Pediatric Behavioral Health.  She continued to share her love and giving through her work at Aurora Mental Health, a center for those who were struggling with mental health, substance abuse and other challenges that affected emotional well-being.  Gaye later became a certified horticulturist at the City Park Greenhouse where she found her love for plants and gardening.  Not to leave children in her community behind, Gaye unselfishly coached young adults in the game of tennis at Camp Somerset in Oakland Maine and additionally, through the National Junior Tennis and Learning Camp, she coached tennis to students at Manual High School’s summer tennis camp.  She served as a paraprofessional for Denver Public Schools where her co-workers thought of her as a wonderful person and as one who “kept it 100”.  Gaye never, never took any mess from anyone and often displayed her sassiness in the name of standing up for herself, for her friends and family, and for protecting others.  

In her spare time, Gaye enjoyed popping up and randomly visiting with family and friends.  She enjoyed traveling and often traveled with her mother on cruises whereby the time the trip was over, she knew everyone on the ship!  Gaye’s famous past time was talking on the phone for hours.  She loved taking in the theater, going to Juneteenth and the annual Martin Luther King Jr. holiday celebration.  Gaye was the life of any family reunion and kept family and friends connected.  For her, there was no such thing as an X-relative.  She was unwavering with giving advice and wisdom to others.  Gaye loved to cook and often offered up her specialty of jerk chicken.  She loved to party and give the best of her humor and gift of gab at neighborhood establishments like Randalls.  She spent time with many of her dear friends.  Gaye could drive like no other and took it upon herself to teach many how to drive.   She was a neighborhood big sister, a trusted neighbor, and a friend to strangers.  She loved, loved, loved Adidas and represented the brand with over 100 pair of shoes and tee-shirts.   Gaye loved her nephews Patrick II and Steven as if they were her own children.  She gave to her community in special ways and was a member of the Lone Star Chapter No. 1, Order of the Eastern Star, P.H.A.  If given the task to choose a biblical gift Gaye was entrusted with, it would be difficult to select just one.  Gaye was a servant, an exhorter who had the gifts of hospitality and teaching.

She is preceded in death by her father, Joseph H. O’Malley; grandmother, Pearl Hardy-Hardiman; grandfather, Albert Hardiman; grandmother, Luella Norris-O’Malley, and grandfather, Patrick J. O’Malley. 

Gaye Lynn O’Malley made her heavenly transition on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. In Denver, Colorado.  Those left to cherish her memory and mourn her loss include are her mother, Pearl Hardiman-O’Malley; her brothers, Patrick O’Malley and Todd (Lynn) O’Malley; her nephews, Patrick O’Malley II, and Steven O’Malley; her uncle, Donald Hardiman; and a host of cousins, and friends.