Gayle T. Walker

Donna Gayle Thomas Walker, 1927-2023, passed away peacefully in her sleep Oct. 31. She was born in Pleasantview, Idaho, to Viola Criesta Peterson Thomas and Charles Edward Thomas at their family farm. Gayle (as she usually used her middle name) was one of seven children. She often shared stories about life on the family farm and helping her younger siblings while her mother worked to keep the family and hired hands fed with homegrown and homemade food. It was this solid foundation of hard work and love that blessed everybody in her life. Decades and generations later, we still benefit from and appreciate her efforts.

Gayle attended Pleasantview Elementary School and graduated from Malad High School in 1945. Directly after graduation, she attended Albion State Normal School, where she earned an elementary school teaching endorsement. Gayle taught second and third grade for about 15 years in Jerome and Pocatello, Idaho. She always said Jesus loved the little children and she did her best to follow in her Savior’s footsteps. In 1951, Gayle took a break from teaching when she was called to an LDS mission in the Western States, Denver, Colo. After her mission, she returned to teaching and college, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1957. Gayle was proud to teach elementary school in Nevada, Idaho and Utah.

While in Salt Lake City, Utah, Gayle met Karl Reed Walker and they married in the Salt Lake Temple on Dec. 20, 1963, honeymooning in Death Valley over Christmas. Reed and Gayle settled in Salt Lake, where they both taught school until they were blessed with two little girls, Laura and Anita. In 1970, the Walker family moved to Spokane, Wash., and then on to North Idaho, where they built a home just outside Spirit Lake. Gayle and Reed eventually moved to Post Falls, Idaho.

Gayle was a devoted disciple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many positions in Sunday School and the Relief Society, but her favorite callings were in music, playing and leading the singing. 

Gayle is preceded in death by her parents, brothers Charles and Marcus, sisters Hope, Renee, Criesta and Polly, and her husband, Reed Walker. She is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Laura and Chris Manson and Anita and Chris Horsethief. She also leaves behind her grandchildren; Adrian Grimes, Jocelyn Walker, Ryan and Tyler Wagner, and Nicholas Manson;  great-grandchildren Sophie, Julie, and Allison Wagner, and many beloved nieces and nephews. 

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. service Monday November 6, 2023, at the English Funeral Chapel 1700 N. Spokane St., Post Falls, ID.

These services will be recorded and streamed live. In the event the service is interrupted at any time due to technical issues, the entire service will be uploaded and available to view later in the day.