Ita “Gayle” (Purdy) Elliott

March 13, 1918 – April 16, 2015

Gayle Purdy Elliott passed away on April 16, 2015 at Doylestown Hospital’s, Pine Run Health Center in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. She was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband, William P. “Bill” Elliott, Jr., her daughter, Billie Gayle Elliott Eastin, son-in-law, Roy Lee Eastin, her parents, Olive Ann Purdy and Race Stevens Purdy. Also, seven sisters and five brothers.

Gayle was born on the family homestead near Cheyenne, Oklahoma, March 13, 1918, the eleventh of twelve children. Her early schooling was in Cheyenne and Clinton, Oklahoma. She moved to Perry to live with her sister and brother-in-law, Rena and Ned Foster and to attend Perry High School. She graduated in 1936. She was a football queen attendant her Freshman year and was Band Queen her Senior year. She was Drill Leader for the Red Hots pep club and Senior Class Beauty Queen candidate. Gayle and Bill were Married September 2, 1935, just before the beginning of their senior year.

During the years her girls were growing up (both attended Perry Schools grades 1 – 12) she was a Blue Birds and Camp Fire Girls leader, involved with P.T.A. and Band Parents, holding leadership positions, including terms as President of each. Gayle was always available to chaperone class trips and band trips.

In the early 1960’s Gayle attended beauty school in Enid, Oklahoma and practiced her skills in Perry for several years. No one gave a better haircut!

Gayle was active in the Noble County Women’s Republican Club and a proud member of Eastern Star.

In 1974 she moved to Hayward, California where she pursued a career in banking, followed by managing a Beauty Supply Store. In 1994 she moved to Doylestown, Pennsylvania, where she resided until her death in 2015. She returned to Perry to be laid to rest in Grace Hill Cemetery next to her beloved Bill.

Gayle is survived by her daughter, Dee Ann Elliott Woodall (Marvin), Doylestown, Pennsylvania, her grandchildren, Mark Elliott Woodall (Theresa), Carrollton, Texas, Amy Anne Woodall Carroll (Todd), Woodstock, Georgia, Teresa Eastin Lamothe (Kirk), Elberta, Colorado, and Eric Lee, Eastin, California. She is also survived by 9 great grandchildren, and 4 great, great, grandchildren all of whom affectionately called her Grams.

Gayle was proud to be a native of Oklahoma. She loved telling stories of growing up in rural Oklahoma. She had a very clear memory. She was quick to tell people she lived in Pennsylvania, but she was FROM Oklahoma.