Gay Marlene (Nilsen) Fischer passed away peacefully at home on December 30, 2024, surrounded by family. Born on November 10, 1936, in Whatcom County to parents Matt and Thelma Nilsen, Gay attended schools in Ferndale and graduated from Ferndale High School in 1953. She met and married her husband, Melvin Fischer, on August 18, 1967. Together, they raised seven children and made their home in Mount Vernon. Gay and Melvin owned The Gilded Cage in Mount Vernon for 25 years before retiring in 1999, enjoying 26 years of retirement together puttering around their home and acreage.

Gay was preceded in death by her daughters, Roberta "Bobbie" L. Alvarado and Robecka "Beckie" L. Struthers, as well as her grandson, Aiden Alvarado. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Melvin Fischer of Mount Vernon, and her daughters, Joy Massey of Sedro-Woolley and Christine Fischer of Mount Vernon.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, August 15th at Hawthorne Memorial Park in Mount Vernon at 11:00 AM, where Robecka "Beckie" Struthers will be placed to rest with Gay.