Gayle Leigh Johnson (Wetherbee) of Warren, PA passed away unexpectedly on July 21st after a valiant fight with leukemia.
Gayle was born in Corry, PA on June 5, 1949, and grew up on the family dairy farm as one of five sisters. She was the valedictorian of Sparta High School Class of 1967 and earned her RN degree from the Meadville City Hospital School of Nursing in 1969. While serving as a nurse at the Warren State Hospital she met Charles (Chuck) Johnson. The two were married in March of 1970 and spent 48 loving years together. In addition to serving as a nurse, she was an integral partner with Chuck in multiple business ventures including Johnson Enterprises and Gayle’s Memories. Gayle was a member of The First Church of the Nazarene in Warren. She also volunteered her time as a mentor to middle school girls.
Gayle appreciated the simple things in life like visiting family and friends, walking in the woods, putting together puzzles and spending time with her grandsons. Family was everything to her. Her greatest joys in life were being a mom and grandma. Gayle put others before herself. She was always there to lend a hand, cook a meal, talk on the phone, and be a positive, encouraging force for all that knew her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Wetherbee and Doris Wetherbee (Scouten), sister, Kay Knapp, and husband, Charles Johnson. She is survived by her two daughters, Genine Carlson and husband, Matthew, and Kryste Ferguson and husband, Scott, along with two grandsons, Ian and Daniel Ferguson all of Fredonia, NY. She is also survived by sisters, Marleen DeLauder (David) of Vinton, VA, Wanda Dillon of Corry, PA, Loretta Dingfelder of Centerville, PA, brother-in-law, Tom Knapp of Galion, OH, and step-brothers, Dennis (Ursula) Howe of Port St. Lucie, FL, Larry (Chris) Howe of Elk Grove Village, IL along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Friends and family may call on Monday, July 31, 2023, from 12:00-2:00 pm at the First Church of the Nazarene, 907 Pennsylvania Ave. E., Warren, PA, with a memorial service following at 2:00 pm officiated by Rev. J. Maier. The Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home Inc. of Warren has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements. Email condolences may be sent by visiting www.lewisfuneralhomeinc.com <www.lewisfuneralhomeinc.com/>. Those wishing to place memorials may do so through Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (give.roswellpark.org/ <give.roswellpark.org/>) and/or the First Church of the Nazarene in Warren, PA.