Gay Charmaine Racina passed away at her home in Denton, Texas on Sunday, October 22, 2023. She was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming on December 18, 1940 to Kenneth and Gladys Houchen. She studied classical violin and piano throughout her elementary, junior high and high school years, and was even offered a four-year scholarship to the University of Colorado for violin.

In her late teens and early 20's, Gay studied dance and became a ballroom instructor.  She also received the Miss Congeniality Award in the Miss Wyoming Pageant. Gay married John Racina, who was stationed at Warren Air force base in Cheyenne in 1965.  They moved to Louisiana when the air force relocated their family to Bossier City, Louisiana.  After John's four year stint in the Air force, they moved to Denton, Texas in 1968 for him to study music at the University of North Texas.

Having written poetry all her life, Gay began songwriting in the mid 1970's and won several songwriting awards.  She and her husband worked together on several songs that he would perform on the bandstand.  She was an avid reader, and always told her children that "everything you need to know is in books."  She was never afraid to take a risk in business because she could always find answers in books.  She attended Texas Woman's University for business management.

Gay always took pride in working and managing offices.  She always said "If you want anything done, you have to talk to the secretary!"  She worked at several finance companies, an architect firm, real estate company and was offered management positions in Dallas and Oklahoma.  In 1977, she was hired by Mr. Bob Nelson, Director of Utilities for the City of Denton, to be his Administrative Assistant.  She was an integral part of the planning that went into developing Lake Ray Roberts Reservoir.  She was also put in charge of introducing Total Quality Management to the Utility department in the 90's.  She retired from the City of Denton in 1996 and started working full time at her daughter's dance studio, Denton Dance Conservatory.

Throughout her life, Gay acted as business partner to her husband in his music business, helping to manage him as an entertainer and jazz artist, as well as keeping the books, sewing outfits during the "Rhinestone Cowboy" era, and more.  Her respect for his talent and dedication knew no bounds.  She also was the inspiration for two of the longest running dance studios in Denton—Denton Ballet Academy in 1979, and Denton Dance Conservatory (DDC) in 1988.  She influenced every aspect of running Denton Dance Conservatory, from guiding her daughter in the ways of business, to applying for non-profit status for the studio's resident non-profit dance company, Denton City Contemporary Ballet, to helping secure guest artists for the COLLAGE Denton Dance Festival, to being the voice of the narration for "A Gift for Emma," a local holiday dance production, and more.

Gay always felt her role as a Mother was her greatest accomplishment. Her devotion to her children and her husband was pure and deep. She worked tirelessly to create a home filled with love, laughter, warmth, and learning. Not only did she guide her children in the teaching of the Bible, she was always a consummate example of how to express God's qualities and live with love, light, discipline, and strength.  She was instrumental in helping her son, Joe, cope with the stress that comes with playing high school and college baseball at a high level. Her advice and steady guidance over the years has always helped Joe's career as well as how to raise his children.

Gay enjoyed gardening, the mountains, the snow, classical, country, and folk music, working on genealogy, taking care of animals, working at the dance studio, and helping out friends. She is preceded in death by her mother, Gladys Houchen, and her sister, Ramona Weekly.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, John Racina, her children, Lisa Racina-Torre of Denton, Texas, and Joe Racina of Cypress, Texas, her son-in-law, Michael Torre, her daughter-in-law, Patricia Racina, her sister and brother-in-law, Lorraine and Richard Campbell, her cousin, Michael Edward Lacey, and her grand-children, Roman and Raquel Racina.

In lieu of gifts, please consider donating "in memory of Gay Racina" to the Denton Animal Support Foundation at info@dentonasf.com (DASF, P.O. Box 486, Denton, TX 76202,) and/or the Covenant House, (800) 388-3888 Option#2.

