Gayle Arlene Price was born on August 30, 1948 in the Coronation Hospital. She was the first child of five born to Murray and Pat Price. Gayle took her schooling, grades one to ten, in Coronation. She participated in school sports including track and field and was known for her long running strides and her speed. Gayle enjoyed playing softball throughout her teen years and later played slow pitch. In the early seventies Gayle’s slow pitch team from Coronation attended the Alberta Summer Games and brought home the Gold Medal. In 1964 Gayle moved to Red Deer and lived with Uncle Joe and Auntie Jean so that she could attend the Red Deer School of Beauty. In 1965 she graduated with her Hairdressing Certificate. Gayle often joked that when she came home as a trained hairdresser, she earned her living for a time, cutting meat for Jack Cole. She continued for some time to utilize her hairdresser training and worked for Vicki Acaster at the Coronation Beauty Salon.
In 1965 Gayle met Ken Conway and on August 6, 1966 they were married in Coronation. On July 24, 1967 a daughter, Lisa joined the family. Their son, Roidd was born on March 19, 1969. When Gayle and Ken separated Gayle and the kids moved to Coronation. Gayle again worked as a hairdresser, a waitress and at Stubb’s store behind the meat counter. In 1974 Gayle, Lisa and Roidd moved to Stettler with Gayle’s mom. Around this time Gayle started to take correspondence and night classes to upgrade her education. In 1975 she earned her Clerk / Typist Certificate from the Red Deer College.
Gayle volunteered with Big Brothers / Big Sisters as well as at the Stettler FCS. Gayle also worked with her mom as camp attendant at Shell Base in the north. She then went on to work at the Esso main base camp as a swing shift cook and pastry cook. Gayle worked on a drilling barge in the Beaufort Sea as a night and pastry cook. In the late 1970’s Gayle drove pilot car for Rite Price Enterprises, owned and operated by her mother Pat and Brother Grant. She travelled extensively piloting drilling rigs around Alberta and further afield. In the late seventies and early eighties Gayle worked in Stettler at the dry cleaners and continued to take night classes. Gayle and friend Julie Stirling then started taking night classes two nights a week driving from Stettler to Red Deer.
1985 saw Gayle and Pat move to Red Deer so Gayle could attend college as a full time student working towards her Social Work Degree. She worked at Social Services Income Security while in college. In 1988 Gayle attended the University of Calgary to complete her degree. Gayle received her Bachelor Degree in Social Work in 1989.
She moved to Killam in 1989 going to work for the County of Flagstaff as a counsellor for Flagstaff Family Community Services (FFCS). Her duties here were varied and at times stressful. Gayle enjoyed her work within the community and continued to attend many courses and seminars to continue her education.
Some of the work related seminars she attended dealt with counselling families through grief, abuse, and suicide. She attended seminars by the Edmonton Police Service for Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Investigations and a RCMP sponsored seminar for Advanced Training for Victim Services. Gayle travelled to the United States and attended Dr. Richard Bandler seminars earning her Certificate as a Licensed Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming as well as her Certificates for Hypnosis as an Application to NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and Neuro-Hypnotic Repatterning.
Gayle worked for the County of Flagstaff for 15 years until her retirement. Family was always an important part of Gayle’s life. When Lisa and Roidd were young she always tried to find time for camping, fishing and sports. Time spent out at Uncle Jim and Aunt Mary’s or Aunt Bea and Uncle Bill’s was always enjoyable. Visiting Uncle Pete’s was always good for a joke or laugh or some wild and woolly stories that would have the kids wide-eyed and giggling. Gayle and Valda took Lisa and Roidd to Disneyland in August of 1977. Disneyland, Knottsberry Farm, the Wax Museum, Universal Studios, San Diego Zoo and a side trip down into Mexico. It was a funfilled seven days that was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Gayle became a grandparent for the first time in 1987 when Dwight was born, Corim following in 1991, Natasha in January and Loomis in June of 1995, Keoni in June and Patrick in October of 1997, twins Katrina and Sarah in December 1999, Wynn in December 2000, and twins Bo-Shalee and Latrel in December 2001. She enjoyed spending as much time as possible with her grandchildren doing various activities. They all enjoyed camping, fishing, swimming at the lake, crafts, baking and working in the yard. In the winter the last few years Lorna and Carson would have a family toboggan party. Gayle, Lorna, Valda and Tara were seen coming down the hill all on one toboggan!
Many of the grandchildren, as well as children of these ladies had a good laugh at this. In 2005 Gayle retired to Stettler as this was fairly central to all of the family. Lisa living in Red Deer, Grant in Penhold, Roidd and Laura in Czar, Valda in Veteran, Lorna ans Tara both in Stettler. Gayle always enjoyed travelling ans some of the trips she took included Mexico, Florida, and Hawaii. In 2007 Gayle and Julie Stirling bought a motorhome and took off travelling. They headed for the east coast of Canada from central Alberta stopping along the way whenever something caught their fancy. They then continued down the eastern seaboard into the States taking their time and enjoying themselves. Eventually they reached Texas and stayed awhile there. When they returned to Canada in early 2008 they had been gone for eight months.
For the last few years Gayle has spent a lot of time working in her yard and flowerbeds with her faithful canine companions Captain and Duke at her side. Gayle helped Lorna each summer with her large garden. Enjoying the time spent out on the acreage weeding and harvesting the bounty. Pickling, canning and freezing vegetables and fruits for all to enjoy during the winter months. In the past 15 years Gayle had developed a passion for genealogy. While researching both the Price and Gilbertson sides of the family she has communicated with a lot of our descendants via e-mail and / or phone calls.
She has collected many documents and photos. Gayle has gathered a very comprehensive family tree for both sides of her family as well as for both sides of Lisa and Roidd’s family. She had also started on a family tree for all of her grandchildren. Early this spring Gayle was diagnosed with cancer. On June 28, 2011 Gayle lost her battle with cancer.
Gayle was predeceased by her mother, Pat Price in January 2001, father Murray Price in July 2006, and granddaughter Wynn Barker in December 2000. Gayle is survived by her daughter, Lisa Conway of Red Deer, AB, and son Roidd (Laura) Conway of Czar, AB.
Grandchildren Dwight Conway, Stettler, AB , Corim Conway, Loomis Barker, Keoni Conway-Barker, Bo-Shalee Barker, Latrel Barker, all of Red Deer, AB, Natasha Conway, Patrick Conway, Katrina Conway, Sarah Conway, all of Czar, AB.
Great-grandchildren Harlem Molleken, Red Deer, AB, and Ethan Conway, Stettler, AB.
Siblings Lorna (Carson) Carl of Stettler, AB, Grant (Cindy) Price of Penhold, AB and Brisbane, Australia, Valda (Lee) Davis of Veteran, AB and Tara (Roger) Nichols, Stettler, AB.
Nieces and nephews Derrick (Donna) Kercher, Brad Kercher, Casey (Pam) Carl, Brandy Carl, Matthew (Jenna) Price, Madison Price, Garrett Price, Janna (Trevor) Wittmack, Megan (Russell) Lohr, Chantel Nichols, Joshua Nichols and Cassidy Nichols; as well as many great nieces and nephews along with aunts, uncles and cousins.
Service
The memorial service to commemorate Gayle’s life took place at the Brownfield Recreation Centre, Brownfield, Alberta on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 1 p.m. with Wade Lindmark leading. Favourite songs of Gayle’s were played “The Rose”, I Did It My Way” and “Wind Beneath My Wings”. A video tribute by Dwight Conway was full of many memories of Gayle’s life. Urn Bearers were grandchildren, Corim and Natasha Conway.
The Interment was immediately following the service at the Fairfield Cemetery. Following the interment family and friends gathered at the Recreation Centre for a time of visiting and reminiscing. A beautiful lunch was prepared and served by the Brownfield U.C.W. In Gayle’s honour, memorial contributions may be made to The Alberta Cancer Foundation, Research Dept., 1331 29 St NW, Calgary AB T2N 4N2 to STARS , 1441 Aviation Park NE, Box 570, Calgary, AB, T2E 8M7 or to a charity of the donor’s choice. You may send your condolences by email to: corofuneralhome@xplornet.com” corofuneralhome@xplornet.com
Heather Caseley of Coronation Funeral Home entrusted with the funeral arrangements. 1-888-578-2928. “Knowledge, Experience And Professionalism With A Personal Touch”
Card of Thanks
We would like to thank Dr. du Toit and the nursing staff at the Stettler Hospital and Dr. Graham and the nursing staff at the Central Alberta Cancer Clinic for all the care Gayle received from them. Thank you to Dr. Tim Hanton and the nursing staff of the Killam Hospital for their devoted care and support during difficult time. A heartfelt thank you to all our friends and relatives for the cards, flowers, and visits, both before and after Gayle’s passing. Your kindness and thoughtfulness will always be appreciated and never forgotten.
A special thank you Wade Lindmark for leading the service. Thank you to the Brownfield United Church Ladies for the lovely lunch. We would also like to thank Heather and Craig Caseley and the staff of the Coronation Funeral Home for all their kindness and guidance at a difficult time.
Lisa Conway & family
Roidd & Laura Conway & family
Lorna & Carson Carl
Grant & Cindy Price
Valda & Lee Davis
Tara & Roger Nichols
