Esther "Gay" (Norton) Metz

In Loving Memory of

Esther “Gay” Metz

Gay Metz was born on April 13, 1922, in Murray County, Minnesota to Raymond and Malo Norton.  She grew up on farms in the Dundee and Westbrook, MN area.  Gay attended University Farm School in Minneapolis, MN.  On January 29, 1944, she and Lyeon Podenski were married in Minneapolis, MN.  Following their marriage, they made their home in Slayton and raised their four children.  Gay later attended Sioux Falls Beauty Academy in Sioux Falls, SD.  She owned and operated Gay’s Beauty Shops in Slayton, Currie, Chandler, and Brewster.  Gay closed the shops and took a job with the State of Minnesota inspecting Beauty Shops.  Lyeon passed away on November 6, 1978. Gay later went to work for the REA Office.  In November 1980 she and Raphael “Ray” Metz were married at St. Ann’s Church in Slayton.  Following their marriage they farmed north of Hadley, MN. Gay retired 2000 when they moved to Slayton.  In February 2024 they moved to Lindenwood Assisted Living in Slayton.  Gay passed away there on Friday, February 7, 2025, at the age of 102.  She was a member of St. Ann’s’ Church in Slayton.  She was a member of the Slayton American Legion Auxiliary, the Slayton VFW Auxiliary, and the Hadley Lioness.  Gay loved bowling and golfing and in participated many tournaments over the years.  Gay enjoyed spending time with family, ceramics, bowling, golfing, and gardening.

Survivors include her husband, Ray Metz of Slayton, MN, one daughter, Merry and David Hollis of Slayton, MN, two daughters-in-law, Gail Podenski of Red Lake Falls, MN, and Kari Podenski of New Hope, MN, five grandchildren, Aaron and Sessali Hollis, Sarah and Jake Sinderbrand,  Zach and Christine Podenski, Leah and Justin Halvorson, Tara and Matt Lake, five great-grandchildren, Dominic Halvorsen, Wyatt Podenski, Sawyer Lake, Carlo Podenski, and Marie Podenski, five in-laws, Waneta Norton of Mission Viejo, CA, Violet Podenski of Edgeley, ND  Joe Metz of Truman, MN, Jane Wagner of Slayton, MN, and Dorothy and Dick Randall of Sauk Rapids, MN, and many nieces and nephews and their families.  Gay is preceded in death by her parents, three children, Nancy Griffith, Phillip “Tony” Podenski, and Thomas Podenski, infant sister, Lanelle Norton, and seven siblings, Glade Norton, Raymond Norton, Max “Buck” Norton, Marguerite Christensen, Gwendolyn Kuehl, Katherine Cole, and Iris Klein.

Memorial Services

St. Ann’s Church in Slayton, MN on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. with Fr. Antony Arokiyam officiating.  The organist is Sharon Lais. The song leader is Sheila Crowley.  The honorary pallbearers are Aaron Hollis, Alan Norton, Chuck Klein, Mark Klein, Murl Cole, and Bob Leonard.  Interment is at St.  Ann’s Cemetery in Slayton, MN. 

Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church on Saturday.  To view online obituary and send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome.com

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