Gaye Mullhofer Siemon

1937 - 2024

GAYE MULLHOFFER SIEMON

March 1, 1937 – May 1, 2024

Beloved Wife, Aunt, and Animal-Lover

A graveside burial service officiated by Monsignor Perry Kavookjian will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 26 at Greenlawn Northeast, 3700 River Boulevard, for Gaye Mullhofer Siemon who died May 1 in Bakersfield at the age of 87.

Gaye was born in Fresno in 1937 to Mathias and Helen Mullhofer. When she was just ten years old, her father died of a brain tumor. This made her early years quite challenging as her mother was forced to return to work as a traveling nurse to support the family.

Gaye graduated from Garces Memorial High School in 1955, and after attending vocational school in Fresno she went on to work as a dental hygienist.

By her own admission, her life was colorful and unconventional as she liked to buck the norm. She was just 26 years old when she met James Barnes in flight school. She thought learning to fly would be the best way to alleviate her fear of flying. They married in 1964 and spent their early years together in Oregon where Jimmy was working on his doctorate. There they hunted and fished the Pacific Northwest. When he graduated, they relocated to Bakersfield where he accepted a post as professor of business marketing at California State University Bakersfield. In 1983, Jimmy tragically drowned during a fishing trip on the upper Kern River.

In 1987 Gaye found love again and married local Ophthalmologist Dr. Glenn Siemon. They enjoyed a very full life together and she eagerly embraced the family dynamic that came with Glenn's five children from a previous marriage. They shared a love of gardening and hosting family dinners and holiday gatherings. She especially enjoyed being Glenn's sous chef in the kitchen, whether he was making jam or a spectacular meal. The couple looked forward to their trips to attend football games at Glenn's alma mater, Stanford University, along with frequent trips to the East Coast to visit family. Their travels took them far and wide.

Gaye was an animal lover since an early age. Glenn was an avid hunter and always had a dog. He thought she should have one of her own; so he gifted her her first dog, a Cairn Terrier. Throughout her lifetime, she enjoyed the companionship of five Cairn Terriers. After Glenn's passing in 2007, they became her constant companions. Her last two were enrolled in the Delta Society's Pet Pals training team program. She received her certification and they would routinely visit hospitals, assisted living homes, and memory units.

Gaye received great pleasure from these visits, oftentimes with friends from years gone by. Her love for animals extended to the Bakersfield SPCA. Over time, she thought of the organization like family. She also loved her estate sales and her weekly visits to Bolles Nursery.

Gaye's adventurous spirit took her to the ends of the earth, including trips to Machu Picchu, Peru, Amazon, South America and the pyramids of Yucatan and Mexico City.

Gaye was a volunteer at the Guild House, and a member of the Bakersfield Museum of Art and the Kern County Museum. She was passionate about Art, History, and keeping up on current events, whether it be the latest stock prices or the Dodgers pitching lineup. A voracious reader who never forgot a fact, she read three newspapers daily from cover to cover.

In the last year of Gaye's life, while on hospice, she took it upon herself to learn Spanish, as one of her caregivers did not speak English - Another testament to her mission to never stop learning and never shy away from a challenge.

Gaye's mischievous smile and spunky personality endeared her to many. She never met a stranger. She was interested in others and their stories, remembering the slightest detail years after meeting them.

Gaye was preceded in death by her parents Mathias and Helen Mullhofer, her first husband Jimmy Barnes, her second husband Dr. Glenn Siemon, her brothers Gary and Patrick Mullhofer, sister in law Judith Mullhofer and her nephew Jeffery Mullhofer.

Gaye's vibrant presence will be greatly missed by her dearest companion, step daughter Jane Siemon, niece Dinah Mettler and her husband Jeff, her nephew Matthew Mullhofer, nephew Brian Mullhofer and wife Erin, sister in law Kathy Mullhofer, and stepchildren Jeffrey Siemon and wife Dawn, Suzanne Pletcher, and Leslie Siemon.

Heartfelt thanks to Dee Trujillo and Diane Matthews for their tender, loving care of Gaye, and to Michael Monji whom she considered like a son. In lieu of flowers, Gaye's memory may be honored with a donation to the Bakersfield SPCA, 3000 Gibson Street, Bakersfield, CA, 93308.

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