Gay Lynne Nixon, wife of former President Richard Nixon’s brother, Ed Nixon, passed away Jan. 20 at her home in Lynnwood.
Nixon, 76, died of Alzheimer’s, a disease she had suffered from for the past several years. Her husband, Edward C. Nixon, the younger brother of former President Richard Nixon, was at her side, according to a news release from the Richard Nixon Foundation.
Gay Lynne Nixon was a high school math teacher in the Edmonds School District from 1967 to 1995, and then began private tutoring.
“Gay Lynne was my lovely, attentive and giving partner for 57 years. I miss her dearly,” Ed Nixon said. “It is a difficult decline when one suffers from Alzheimer’s. I know it was extraordinarily hard on her as she realized its consequences. We had wonderful years together, many on the campaign trail with my brother. She enjoyed that role and was enormously helpful in so many ways.”
The two married June 1, 1957 and had two children, Amelie “Amy” Peiffer of Kent and Elizabeth “Beth” Matheny of Everett.
In his book, The Nixons: A Family Portrait, published in 2009, Ed recalled the time they first met. “Sitting across from her, I could see she was full of spirit. I had my sights set on that young lady,” Nixon wrote.
Gayle Lynne Nixon was an accomplished musician and excelled at the piano, classical guitar and accordion. She had a broad interest in learning, traveled all over the world and learned to speak Finnish, Spanish, German and Italian well enough to lead groups of students on summer tours for People-to-People.
She graduated from Tulane University with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and earned her teaching certificate from the University of Washington.
No immediate services are planned. Messages can be sent to Ed Nixon at ed@nixon.us.
One of my favorite teachers back in the day at Meadowdale Junior High, early 80’s. She had a great way with students but didnt take any BS either. RIP Mrs. Nixon
Wow I was just talking about her to a friend just awhile ago. I agree a great teachers at Meadowdale in the 70’s as well. I remember talking to her at graduation in 73. Mrs. Nixon you did leave a mark, my sympathy to her family…RIP
It was a privilidge knowing her and being her friend ! she will be missed by all the Music and Folk Dance Community here in Seattle
I loved you and your husband very much. Thank you for all that you gave me and all the time you spent with me every Monday, Wednesday and Friday:) Thank you to your husband for helping me with chemistry and being the best visual aid on a US history project I EVER had!! Got an A for that one. I send you the best and often think about you guys. Sending my love to your family.
She was a great person and musician.
She was a fine teacher, she expected the very best from her students and always believed in them. She gave her everything so we could learn everything. She was my teacher for several years and I learned algebra because of her efforts. Thank you Mrs. Nixon, rest in peace.
One of my favorite teachers. I was a t.a. For her.
My husband taught at Lynnwood high school with Gay for many years. He thought she was a great teacher. He stopped teaching there in 1999. We had Gay and Ed at our house in N Edmonds for a potluck dinner one evening and I got a chance to talk to Ed for a while. What a nice guy. I am in the middle of reading Ed‘s book about the Nixon family and it is very very good.