Gayle Whitley Gordon, age 64, died July 11, 2009 in Chapel Hill following a long term affliction with Multiple Sclerosis.
Born on August 2, 1944 in Como, NC, she was the daughter of the late Linwood and Mildred (Barrett) Whitley.
She attended the local schools in Murfreesboro where she received the citizenship award at her high school graduation. She graduated from Chowan College where she served as Chapter President of Alpha Pi Epsilon and then continued her studies in medical transcription. As a medical transcriptionist she worked at several medical facilities in North Carolina and Virginia, the last at Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia. In 1984 she left the work force due to declining health and was lovingly cared for by her mother. Since 1992, she lived in skilled care facilities in North Carolina.
As a child, Gayle enjoyed her 4-H Club work and fishing with her father and sister. She developed a love of animals, a devotion that continued throughout her life; she was particularly fond of her dog Suzie. Other pastimes included music and following the Norfolk Tides and the New York Mets. Gayle maintained strong ties to her hometown of Como where she enjoyed visiting friends and relatives.
A Celebration of Life service will be held Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at Buckhorn Baptist Church. Rev. John Hackney will officiate. Her ashes will be scattered along the Virginia shoreline, as she requested.
Left to cherish her memory are sister Ruth Whitley Nagle and her husband, David, of Chapel Hill; nephew Michael D. Nagle and his wife, Linda, of Salt Lake City; nieces, Julie Maranto and her husband, Tony ,of Lake Bluff, IL and Amy Nagle of Mundelein, IL; great nieces Melissa Maranto, Madeline Maranto and great nephew Anthony Maranto, all of Lake Bluff, IL; and several cousins.
The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 7-8:30 p.m. at 1210 Hwy 258 in Como and other times at the same address.
Following Gayle’s wishes, her organs were donated to the University of North Carolina Hospitals for research in Multiple Sclerosis. Gayle requested memorials be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, P.O. Box 4527, New York, NY 10163 or local chapters of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or to Buckhorn Baptist Church, or to Duke HomeCare & Hospice, 4321 Medical Park Drive, Suite 101, Durham, NC 27704.
Friends and family may send condolences and sign the online register at www.garrettjonesfh.com.
Garrett-Jones Funeral Home is serving the Gordon family.