Norma Gaile Stockton Taylor – wife, mom, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher and friend – went to sleep on Saturday, November 6th, 2021 and woke up in the presence of her Lord, Savior and Boss, Jesus Christ. She was 80 years old.
Gaile (“Mema” or “Ms. Taylor” as she was known to most) was born on August 30, 1941, in Austin, TX. She is preceded in death by her parents, Harvey David Stockton and Roxie Irene Brummett Stockton, her only sibling, Juanita Faye Krug, and by her husband, Marion Wilson Taylor.
She grew up with her loving family on a small farm in San Marcos, TX and lived there until she married Marion on June 6, 1964. After she taught fourth grade for two years in San Antonio, she and Marion moved to Laredo, TX where they had their first child, Rhonda Rhene Taylor Gayle. Shortly after Rhonda was born, they moved to Devine, TX, where they had their son, Scott Allen Taylor, and resided for the rest of their lives.
Early on, Gaile taught 4th grade for one year in the Devine ISD but she resigned from that job after one year in order to take care of Rhonda, who was often sick with asthma, and to give birth to their second child, Scott. Gaile returned to the classroom, however, in 1971 as a Kindergarten teacher in the Natalia ISD, where she worked until she retired, twenty-nine years later.
Gaile is known for her faith in Jesus Christ and her depth of knowledge of the scriptures. She taught Sunday School at the First Baptist Church, Devine up until the time it became physically impossible for her to do so.
Gaile is also known as an avid fan of Devine sports, especially those involving her children and grandchildren. She was their biggest fan!
In her lifetime, Gaile embodied the words of the Apostle Paul in the Bible:
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)
Time and again, Gaile laid down her life, her dreams and her ambitions to “look to the interest of others,” in her family, her church and her workplace.
Children were the delight and joy of Gaile’s life! Her legacy includes two children (Rhonda & her husband Kyle Gayle; and Scott & his wife Nikki Taylor); 8 grandchildren (Sarah Gayle McKeon & husband Corey, Aaron Gayle & wife Natasha, Sierra Taylor Zinsmeyer & husband Beau, Rachel Gayle Funderburk & husband Jordan, Daniel “Kip” Gayle, Kaitlin Gayle Willebeek-LeMair & husband Jacob, Jerrod Taylor, and Allyson Taylor); and 6 great-grandchildren (Audrey Gayle – 5, Lindsey McKeon – 4, Addilynn Zinsmeyer – 3, Lesley McKeon – 3, and her first two great-grandsons, Owen Brooks Zinsmeyer – 2 months and Rowen James Willebeek-LeMair – 1 week) along with countless other nieces, nephews, and “adopted” grandchildren.
Gaile will be missed by many. To honor her life and legacy, there will be an open visitation on Saturday, November 13, 2021 from 9am – 1pm at Hurley Funeral Home in Devine. This will be followed by a private family burial that same day.
Then, on Sunday, December 5th, there will be a full Celebration of Life at 2pm at First Baptist Church, Devine, where family, friends and former students will be able to gather, remember and comfort one another in the loss of their mutual friend and mentor.
In lieu of flowers, Gaile and the family would like you to donate to Christian Impact, an organization led by her grandchildren and committed to sharing the gospel with the Next Generation on college campuses in Fort Worth, TX and beyond. Click here to donate: https://missionaries.namb.net/full/jacob-willebeek-lemair
If you wish to offer a word of condolences or share a memory you may do so by visiting www.hurleyfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Hurley Funeral Home in Devine, Texas.