Mary Gayler Obituary

Mary Ann Gayler died on Thursday, September 7th, 2023, in Austin, TX. Mary Ann was born to Leonard B. and Lucille McDonald in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on November 7th, 1931. Mary Ann's mother died three days later and Mother's twin sister, Claudia Lindblad came from Iowa and adopted Mary Ann and took her back to Iowa. Mary Ann grew up in Lawton, Oklahoma. She graduated from the Academy of Mary Immaculate in Wichita Falls, TX in 1949. Later schooling included Cameron College, Lawton, Oklahoma and Niagara University, Lewiston, N. Y. 1951, brought Charles Gayler into her life. They married March 24th, 1951, in the parsonage of the First Christian Church, Lawton, Oklahoma. Life with Charley was exciting, always on the move. Charles served in Korea and when he returned entered University of Oklahoma. , Norman, Oklahoma to complete his chemical engineering degree. After his graduation the family moved to Corpus Christi, Texas. Mary Ann had many family members in Corpus Christi. A former professor of Charley's brought him to Celanese. Charles II was born at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 1953, Robert and John were both born in Corpus Christi in 1956, and 1958. Opportunity beckoned and in 1964, we packed up the station wagon and moved to Lewiston, N. Y. What a wonderful place to live. 1965, brought the arrival of son number 4, David. 1971, brought another move, this time to Columbus, Ohio. Great place to live and the three older boys were able to attend and thankfully graduate from Ohio State University. We were active members of the Linworth Methodist Church. 1978, brought a move to Titusville, N. J. We left the three older boys at Ohio State and started another journey. Charley was assigned to International office in Manhattan and this started a very different way of life. We were fortunate to travel overseas many times. 1981 was an important year for our family. David graduated from Hopewell Valley High and prepared to go off to college. Charley told David that since he was the only "Yankee" in the family that he decided Texas A & M were painful but then a miracle happened. David called and said this was a great place after all and we all breathed a sigh of relief. He graduated and best of all, married his Aggie sweetheart. 1986, brought all the family back to Texas. We purchased a home in McAllen and leased an apartment in Houston. Commuting became a way of life. 1988, an assignment in Holland was on the agenda. What fun we had. 1989, we returned to Sugarland and the commuting to McAllen began again. Charley retired in 2000 and McAllen became our permanent home. Charley died in 2004 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Hopefully I will join him there. My family has been my life and my privilege. There have been many wonderful friends through the years. Hopefully the Good Lord will be merciful and accept me into his presence and I can be with Charley again. Private services will be held at a later date and she will be placed with Charles at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.