Gayle Strickland Elkes
April 17, 1937 – March 12, 2024
Gayle Page Strickland Elkes passed away peacefully on March 12, 2024 at The Windsor of Ocala under the care of Hospice of Marion County after a heart-breaking journey with Alzheimer’s. She was a loving mother, a caring friend to innumerable, and one of God’s faithful servants.
Gayle was born April 17, 1937 in Kite, Georgia to the late Burley and Annie Ruth Fortner Page.
Gayle graduated from the Barrett School of Nursing in Augusta, Georgia. There, she met the love of her life, Edmond Thomas Strickland, Jr. M.D. They were happily married for 26 years and had three children who survive her: Edmond Thomas Strickland, III (Jody) of Perry, GA; Gayle Page Branson (Rusty) of Ocala, FL and Stuart Burley Strickland of Gainesville, FL. She is also survived by her two siblings: Burley Page, Jr. (Connie) and Annelle Norris of Kite, GA. and her six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Sadly, Dr. Strickland predeceased Gayle on July 10, 1986. In November, 1994, Gayle married Frank Elkes with whom she shared 20 years until his death in 2015.
Gayle was an active member of Ocala First United Methodist Church for over 50 years and a member of the Open-Door Sunday School Class.
A funeral service will be held for Mrs. Elkes at 2 PM Friday, March 15, 2024 at Ocala First United Methodist Church, 1126 E Silver Spring Blvd, Ocala, FL 34470, with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to HUGs Charities, hugscharities.info; Hospice of Marion County, hospiceofmarion.org; or The Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org.