Gayle Rodgers, a Christian has gone to her heavenly home to live with her Savior and God at the age of 82 years.

In June 1940, Carl and Mildred Cecil welcomed Gayle, the first of ten children to their family. Gayle was a young teenager in April 1956, when she wed Bobby Rodgers. They celebrated 57 years of marriage until his passing in 2013. Together, they loved and cared for their children: Judy, Jeff and Misty.

Gayle adored babies and was a loving, active grandmother to LaDawn, Laticia, Ashton, Brittney, Bryce, Carley and Kynlee.

She has been a caring great-grandmother to Macayla, Blair, Lane, Brynlee, Luke, Liam, Baylor and Blakely, and in her heart cherished a 5th grandchild, Anthony, who passed at birth.

After the loss of her parents, Gayle took on the role of Matriarch to her siblings: Larry, Duke, Linda, Sheryl, Joe, David Frank, Mike and their respective children by happily making her home a gathering place for Sunday lunches, holiday dinners, and cookouts by the swimming pool for everyone who dropped by to visit.

Gayle helped provide for her family as an employee of Brown Shoe Company for over 20 years, and then operating a home decorating business from 1980 until her retirement in 2007.

Over her lifetime, many friends and family received an afghan or baby blanket from Gayle, as she was always busy crocheting any time she sat still. Her kitchen cabinets were running over with her favorite reading material – cookbooks, and Gayle’s stovetop and dining room table were spread with her greatest talent - delicious home-cooked food. She also enjoyed planting beautiful flowers each spring, listening to Neil Diamond music, and ending the day with a romance novel, which lay on her bedside table.

She will be fondly missed and remembered by her family, friends, neighbors, and church family.

Visitation will be held at the Bernie Church of Christ on Monday, October 3, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted at the Bernie Church of Christ on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. with Stan Dauck officiating. Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Bobby Rodgers’ Memorial Scholarship, c/o Rhonda Shipman, 516 W Main Ave, Bernie, Missouri 63822 or to the Children’s Homes Inc, 5515 Walcott Road, Paragould, AR 72450-3319.

Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie is assisting with arrangements.