Euleta Faye Ashby, affectionately known as Faye, completed her earthly journey and met her Creator on August 17, 2025. Born on December 13, 1936, in Checotah, Oklahoma, to August and Myrtle Brinsfield, Faye was a beacon of love and faith throughout her 88 years. She passed away peacefully in Bakersfield, California, leaving behind a legacy of warmth, generosity, and devout spirituality.

Faye's love story began when Riley met her father at the cotton gin, caught sight of her photograph, and declared he was going to marry her. Because her family followed the harvest seasons, they eventually moved to California, but distance did not diminish their connection. She and Riley exchanged letters until, after just two months, he drove to California to bring her back to Arizona. There, at the courthouse, they were married—beginning what would become a remarkable 72 years together. Their first home was in Queen Creek, Arizona, where they welcomed two children, Donna and Mike. Later, their journey took them to Shafter, California, before they eventually settled in Bakersfield, where they created a life centered on faith, family, and community.

Faye pursued a notable 20-year career as a loan officer liaison for Bank of America. Yet her greatest calling was service—whether as a Room Mother, Camp Fire Girls leader, Boy Scout leader, Awanas leader, or Dispatcher for the Shafter Police Reserves. In all she did, her heart for others shone brightly.

A devout Christian, Faye lived as a true reflection of her faith. She was a pillar of her church community at Grace Baptist Church, a woman of prayer and service, and someone who found joy in the simple but meaningful things: sewing and crocheting, baking, and traveling with her family and friends, especially with the jeep and trailer club. To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was lovingly known as "Nana"—a name that captured her role as a guiding light of love, encouragement, and comfort.

Those who knew Faye would describe her as loving, faith-filled, and thoughtful—a woman who embodied the spirit of 1 Corinthians 13:13: "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."

She is survived by her devoted husband Riley; her daughter Donna Howard; daughter-in-law Charlene Ashby; siblings Nadine (James) Parker, Betty Fairchild, Darlene Metcalf, and Randy (Lisa) Brinsfield; sister-in-laws Wanda Davidson and Alma Brinsfield; grandchildren Josh (Jennifer) Ashby, Jeremy Ashby, Shannon (Chris) Howard-Flynn, Summer Ashby, Shawn (Kelsey) Howard, and Shelby (Daniel) Schott; and her treasured great-grandchildren Adrian and Jacob Gomez, Cadence, Tavin, Fulton, and Rowan Schott, Brooklyn, Finley, and Lincoln Osterhout, Dillon and Ava Flynn, Flint Howard, Violet Currie, and Jacob Schauer. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, church family, and friends who will carry her memory forward.

She was preceded in death by her parents August and Myrtle Brinsfield, her son Mike Ashby, son-in-law Keith Howard, brothers Carl and David Brinsfield, and brother-in-laws Howard Fairchild and Bob Metcalf.