Gayla Ann Mayo, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on August 11, 2023, surrounded by her family. She was 74 years old.

She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Willis "Bill" Mayo, and her two sons, Matthew and Jeffrey, and daughters-in-law Jennifer Smith-Mayo and Jennifer Mayo, as well as grandson Finley Mayo.

Gayla's family also includes her sister-in-law Donna Thompson, several siblings, including David (wife Linda) MacLaughlin; and sister-in-law MaryAnne MacLaughlin; as well as numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins. Her closest and dearest friends include Marie Hargreaves, Marie's children and sisters; Donna and Leslie Hammond; Rose Mary Smith; Charity Smith; Shirley and Amy Crouch; Alice and Jeff Barber; Joanne and Richard Reynolds; Joanne Retzler, as well as Irene, Susan, Carol, Viola, Michelle, Sue, Debbie and Joe, Kim and Jim, and numerous other friends.

A native of the Ocean State, Gayla was raised in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, and grew up there, on the ocean, messing about in boats with her siblings and friends. She met her future husband, Bill, when she was seven and he was eight when Bill joined her mother's Cub Scout pack. Gayla attended North Kingstown High School where she excelled academically, often "assisting" Bill, her brother Michael, and others with their homework assignments.

In 1968, following high school, Gayla and Bill wed. Their first child, Matthew, was born before Bill was sent to Vietnam as a soldier in the US Army. Following that stressful time, Gayla worked at the University of Rhode Island as second in charge of the campus mail services.

In 1977, Gayla and Bill moved to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, where they owned and operated a dairy farm in Westfield, Vermont. In 1982, they welcomed their second child, Jeffrey, to the family. Gayla ran a successful daycare business from their home in Irasburg, Vermont, where she was also a dedicated partner in their dairy, Columbine Farm Registered Holsteins, and was particularly adept at caring for calves and juggling the books.

Gayla was also an activist, engaged in the early days of Farm Aid, traveling to St. Louis where she worked with Rev. Jesse Jackson and Willie Nelson on behalf of US farmers. In addition to this, she worked for the Orleans County Supervisory Union as a para-educator in the elementary school system, eventually assuming the role of assistant speech pathologist, a job she loved. During this time she also became a lead negotiator for the local teachers' union, lobbying on behalf of Vermont school support staff.

In 2007, Gayla earned her Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Community College of Vermont. In 2018, Gayla and Bill sold their farm in Irasburg and moved to southern Vermont, where they refurbished a home and enjoyed spending time with friends and family, particularly their grandson, Finley.

Gayla Ann Mayo will be most remembered for her smile, her sense of humor, and her kindness and generosity. She was happiest when doing for others, and countless friends and organizations benefited from her assistance, from school bake sales to coaching Little League baseball, from leading 4-H Clubs and Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops to teaching catechism, and more.

In addition to being a proud left-hander, Gayla was a skilled seamstress, sewing clothes for her husband, her sons, and herself, and mending garments for friends. She was also a voracious reader, staying awake into the wee hours, drinking tea and engrossed in a good book. And she spent many happy days at the beach with Marie and the kids, and many happy hours laughing and shopping with RoRo.

Friends and family could always be found around Gayla's kitchen table, enjoying a hot cup of coffee and a slice of her famous apple cake or banana bread (usually with Elvis or Neil Diamond playing in the background). She was a dedicated baker of cookies, particularly Bill's favorite—oatmeal-raisin, as well as cakes, pies, breads, and, best of all, her famous whoopie pies.

Proud of her Irish heritage, Gayla loved to tell a story, and always with a twinkle in her bright, blue eyes.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Gayla Mayo's memory to the Vermont Foodbank at vtfoodbank.org; 33 Parker Road, Wilson Industrial Park, Barre, VT 05641; 800-585-2265.

Graveside services for family and friends will be held at Irasburg Cemetery in Irasburg, Vermont, on Saturday, August 19, 2023, at 11 a.m. A private memorial will be held at the family's convenience. Online condolences may be made at knightfuneralhomes.com.