Gayla Gardner Astle

Gayla Gardner Astle was born May 30, 1934 in Afton Wyoming, the second of five children born to Archibald Gardner and Mary Estella Toland. She passed away on July 22, 2024, at age 90, in St George Utah from issues related to age and a broken femur. Gayla enjoyed a loving and happy childhood, filled with friends, music and learning. She married her High School sweetheart, Dee Carling Astle, in the Salt Lake temple on Oct, 27 1952, thus beginning a 71 and a half year loving relationship. Their marriage was filled with love and devotion to each other and many years of hard work and frugal living as they raised their five children [Carolyn, Craig, Kent, Val and Robert]. Gayla was a great mother, teaching her children with kindness, patience and by example. She loved a clean house and she loved to cook wonderful meals which almost always included a dessert. She enjoyed celebrating each holiday with its music and decorations and taught her children to love life. Music was always a very important part of Gayla’s life from childhood on. She became an excellent pianist and later a proficient guitarist. She taught both piano and guitar lessons for many years, thus blessing the lives of so many people young and older. Serving in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints throughout her life in Music and many other callings was also a cherished part of Gayla’s life. With Dee, she served an Historic Sites mission for the church. They were temple ordinance workers for many years in both the Idaho Falls and the St George temples. Gayla and Dee exemplified a loving united marriage. Being united and inseparable in life, Gayla followed Dee in death only two and one half months after his passing. They raised their five children on a small rural farm/ranch in Grover ,in beautiful Star Valley Wyoming. Their loving home was filled with music, book reading at bedtime and a lot of hard work. The Love of God and of their fellow men was the core value of their lives. Gayla and Dee loved spending time together, riding horses, dancing, talking and working side by side and were often seen holding hands. Gayla was loved by all who knew her and will be remembered by family and friends, for her great faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and her eternal optimism. She choose to see the good in others and in all situations and was quick to express thanks to God for her blessings and to each person who crossed her path in life. She loved life and at the time of her passing at age 90, was surrounded by loving family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings, Nada Joy, Hal, Dahl, and Emilyn, and by her husband Dee and their beloved daughter Carolyn [Chuck Owen]. She will be honored and remembered by her four sons, Craig [Jan], Kent [Denise], Val [Valerie], and Robert [Teri] and by her 19 grandchildren and 57 great and great great grandchildren. The family wishes to thank all of the members of Gayla and Dee’s beloved Dammeron Valley ward for their loving kindness and all other friends and family who have played such an important role in Gayla’s life. Many thanks to all the loving and caring health care personal at RedCliffs Health and Rehabilitation , St George Intermountain Hospital and Zion’s Way Hospice. The funeral/celebration of life services will be held Aug 31 at 11 am at the Dammeron/Diamond Valley Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint chapel. There will be no viewing but friends and family are welcome to greet family and pay respects prior to the services from 9:30 on. There will be a family prayer at 10:45am.

Gayla Gardner Astle

May 30, 1934 - July 22, 2024