Gayle (Ives) Anderson

Gayle (Ives) Anderson was born April 29, 1937, to Kenneth and Florence (Baldwin) Ives in Adrian, Mich. Gayle was the youngest of five children: Russell, Mary (Renner), Frances (Fox), and Douglas Ives. She married James K. Anderson on April 27, 1956, later divorced in 1976. Together they shared three children: Kim S. Wahl, Kendra (Gary) Ondrus, and Kenneth (Tanya) Anderson. She leaves behind grandchildren: Jamie (Gayle) Wahl, Jacob (Nicci) Wahl, Michael (Carly) Wahl, Erika Kayser Box (Brad Aemisegger), Kirk (Sarah) Kayser, Kristen (Kevin) Kowalewski, Kayla Sims and Isabelle Anderson. Gayle is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Cody and Connor Wahl, Anthony, Landon, and Kaitlyn Wahl, Jayden and Caleb James Palmer, Lillian Box and Selena Aemisegger, Mary and Johanna Kayser.

Gayle graduated from Adrian High School in 1954. She held secretarial positions, got married in 1956, had their first child, and then worked as a licensed beautician after graduating from Jackson Beauty College. Gayle worked in several beauty salons, and then opened her own salon in her home (Gayle’s Country Beauty Salon). Much later she worked at Merillat Industries/Masco for 26 years, retiring in 2001.

Contrary to her claim that she “didn’t like to travel,” she traveled to New York City, Canada, looped through the western states, numerous trips to California, Mexico, Hawaii, Florida, the Outer Banks, Wisconsin (Geneva Lake), Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and the Straits of Mackinac via ferry prior to the building of the bridge.

Gayle was raised on the family farm, and loved horses, later volunteering assisting handicapped riders. She also volunteered for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Gayle was an avid bowler on and off throughout her life, the last being in a senior league in 2018. She loved her Michigan Wolverines and Detroit Tigers. She was an avid sports fan, most recently developing a greater appreciation for soccer. Gayle enjoyed playing sports herself and passed her love of sports on to her children. She found great joy in watching them compete as well as cheering on her grandchildren.

Gayle will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched, but she is leaving behind quite a legacy of love, strength and generosity.

At Gayle’s request, cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 21, 2019, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Anderson-Marry Funeral Home in Tecumseh. A memorial service will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. at Anderson-Marry Funeral Home in Tecumseh with Pastor Ed Bellner officiating. Burial of cremains will be in Brookside Cemetery in Tecumseh.

Condolences may be sent to the family at andersonfuneralservices.com  Charitable contributions in Gayle’s memory may be made to: ProMedica Hospice and Dr. Denise Faustman via Massachusetts General Hospital and include “Cure Diabetes Now Fund”, faustmanlab.org.  Envelopes are available at Anderson-Marry Funeral Home.