Gayle Estell Bechtold Wageman
July 30, 1945 - March 14, 2009

Gayle Estell (Bechtold) Wageman

Former resident of The Dalles, Gayle Estell ( Bechtold) Wageman died March 14, 2009 in Coos Bay Oregon.
Gayle was born in Portland Oregon on July 30th 1945. She was adopted at birth by Ivan and Virginia Bechtold. Gayle traveled with her parents along the Columbia River with U.S. Army Corp of Engineers projects. From Bonneville to "Big Eddy" to The Dalles and John Day Dams as her father Ivan, was chief of cement projects with the Corp of Engineers.

Gayle, attended local grade schools and graduated from The Dalles High School class of 1964.While in High School she was a member of the "Booster Girls" Drum and Bugle Corp. In recent years she enjoyed attending the class reunion and marching in the Cherry Festival parade with the reunion of the former "Booster Girls".
After graduation she attended Portland State and served in the U.S. Army. Later on she was a legal secretary and worked locally. More recently she was a CNA/caregiver for many local families. She cared for her mother and father, Ivan and Virginia, and she also cared for her former husband Denny Wageman in his final illness.
Gayle enjoyed many things in her life; music, dancing ballet she was a student for many years . She loved to cook collecting cook books from all over. She loved gardening flowers roses especially her roses, they were her babies. Gayle had a love for anything and anyone Irish; cooking, history, music, dance, culture her greatest dream was one day to be able to travel to Ireland . She was an active member of St Peter's Parish and brought communion to those unable to attend mass.

Gayle loved animals she could not say "No" to a stray.

Gabby enjoyed being a member of the Red Hat Society, belonging to groups in The Dalles and in Coos Bay.
Gayle moved to Coos Bay Oregon about two and half years ago.

Gayle was preceded in death by her mother and father Ivan and Virginia, former husband Denny Wageman mother in-law Bonita Wageman, brother Darrel Wageman and is survived by a step-sister Sanda McGrath, Long Beach California, Julie Westwood, cousin, Scappose Oregon, Wendi Lampert, niece, Scappose Oregon, Hunter Pierson, nephew, Scappose Oregon . Good neighbors who helped her in her final illness Velma and Dwight in Coos Bay and Frances Glavey King of The Dalles a long time friend.

Coos Bay Mortuary is in charge of cremation arrangements and the scattering of ashes at a later date.
Donation to Catlink The Dalles and Bread and Blessings of The Dalles is suggested by the family. Fr. Todd Unger celebrated mass for Gayle on Saturday March 14th at St Peter's Catholic Church in The Dalles.
It is fitting that this be in the paper on St Patrick's day as her love of all things Irish.
Gabby-----We hope you were in heaven one half hour before the devil knew you were gone. -----Silante``

--from The Dalles Chronicle, March 17, 2009