29 March 1918 – 5 December 2017
Gayle was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was raised in Tooele among many extended family members, all descended from pioneers. She was an excellent student and allowed to take math and science classes normally reserved for boys. She met her husband, Cannon Jensen, in the chemistry labs of Brigham Young University. They were married for 49 years and raised three daughters.
During WWII the family moved to California. In 1948 they settled in Watsonville, where Cannon was the Watsonville High School chemistry teacher, then moved to Aptos when Cannon was hired by Cabrillo.
Gayle was a homemaker who was active in church and school programs and served as secretary for the local Soil Conservation District. When her youngest daughter was grown, Gayle returned to college earning her LVN and working in Watsonville doctors’ offices. The couple enjoyed travel in the USA and Canada. After Cannon’s death in 1987, Gayle often visited her daughter Kathy in England.
She was a walking historian who loved telling stories. She appreciated the arts and music and filled her home with artwork, pottery, quilts, orchids, lemons from her lemon tree, and a series of much-loved dogs.
Gayle enjoyed the last 3-and-a-half years in a retirement community in Santa Barbara near her daughter JoAnn.
Gayle leaves her three daughters Carolyn Monday, JoAnn Dovgin & Kathy Jensen; grandsons Daniel Todd Hooker and Christopher Daniel Monday; great-grandsons George and Nicholas Monday; her sister Monnie and nephew Steven Elliott.
Donations in Memory may be made to Peace of Mind Dog Rescue, California State Park Foundation, or Yosemite Conservancy.
