Gayle Marion (Thompson) OTT

OTT, THOMPSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/31/2016 at 18:21:56

November 20, 1920 ---- January 20, 2016

Gayle Marion Ott, born November 20, 1920 passed peacefully at home on January 20, 2016. Born in Renwick, Iowa she was one of 3 sisters. She attended grade school in Goldfield and later attended and graduated from Corwith High School. She moved from Iowa to Billings, Montana in 1939 to be near other family members and to seek employment. Her work experience in Billings included Woolworth and Newberry dime stores, Stewart's cleaners and Bennett drugstores as a bookkeeper. It was at Bennett drug in 1956 that she met her husband, Vern, who was also employed there as a Pharmacist. They were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in December of 1957. In 1959, they opened their own Pharmacy in the Gorham Park area of Billings. During this time Gayle worked for the American Cancer Society in Billings when, after the sale of their pharmacy, they moved to Anaheim, California in 1965 to be near her sister Leona. During the years Vern worked as a Pharmacist in Southern California, she worked in Doctors' Offices and the Yorba Linda Medical Clinic over a period of 16 years. They moved to Hesperia in 1985. Gayle enjoyed all forms of dance. As a young couple she and Vern square danced in Anaheim for years and in the high desert until Vern's knee replacement surgeries. She enjoyed line dancing until age 92. In retirement, Gayle volunteered at Samaritans Helping hand in Victorville for 18 years. It was during that connection that she became acquainted with street wise homeless people and soon realized they needed help in caring for their animals. She was motivated to help them. She bought dog food and paid for their veterinary bills to the extent she could. Of herself, she said: My "Stump" is spaying and neutering.

Gayle is survived by her husband Vern. Her parents Charles and Alma Thompson and her sisters Zona and Leona all preceded her in death. Gayle was the last of her generation of cousins. She and Vern celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary in December of last year.

Services will be held at Faith Lutheran, 9600 Seventh Ave. Hesperia, California on Saturday, February 6, 2016. The viewing will start at 10am and the service will be held at 11am. Following the service, a reception and luncheon will be held at the fellowship hall of faith. Private interment will be held at Desert View Memorial Park in Victorville, California. A Lutheran for most of her life, she and her husband have attended Faith Lutheran in Hesperia for 27 years. Placed in hospice due to Kidney failure and severe anemia, she longed daily to be called to her heavenly home. After being in hospice for 1 year and 2 months, she is now in the joy and presence of her Lord Jesus Christ. The family thanks the many volunteers that stayed with her when Vern needed to shop or had personal appointments. Also, the Visiting Nurse Association for their compassionate hospice care.

Daily Press --- Hesperia, California
January 31, 2016