Gayle Marie Dobson Connor

Gayle Marie Dobson Connor died peacefully surrounded by family at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital on June 21, 2026, at the age of 89. Gayle was born in Mount Airy, North Carolina, the second oldest of four children of Howard Archie Dobson and Melba Hylton Dobson. She graduated from Mount Airy High School and went on to attend the University of North Carolina, Women’s College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, magna cum laude, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. In 1958 she married William C. Connor, an Ensign in the United States Navy, and for the next 25 years she and William were stationed at a variety of places including Iwakuni, Japan, Gulfport, Mississippi, Honolulu, Hawaii and Kings Bay, Georgia. In 1983 William retired from the Navy and he and Gayle relocated to Tallahassee, Florida. Gayle served as a schoolteacher from time to time and also was an inveterate volunteer, contributing countless hours to helping organizations ranging from Navy Relief to the Florida History Museum to the PHI Center. Closest to her heart was her church work. A devoted Christian, Gayle was always intimately involved in the life of her churches and at one point undertook the mission of starting and building a new congregation within the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. In 1994 William and Gayle purchased a second home in the mountains of western North Carolina where they enjoyed boating and spending time with family. Her beloved dogs Kirby and later Sandee were rarely more than a few feet away from her. A certified Master Gardener, Gayle had a lifelong love of plants and gardening as well as cooking. Her recipes were highly prized among her friends and family. One of her greatest joys was spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is survived by her husband William, sons Michael and Stephen, grandchildren Catherine, Craig and Katie, great-grandchildren Tommy, Rachel and Hazel, and brother Richard and sister Dottie. She was preceded in death by her sister Susie. The family will receive friends from 3:00 PM until 4:00 PM, Thursday, July 2, 2026, at Bevis Funeral Home Chapel, 200 John Knox Rd. Tallahassee, FL 32303. The funeral service will follow at 4:00 PM, the interment will be held Friday, July 3, 2026, at 9:00 AM at Tallahassee National Cemetery. Todd Wahlquist is assisting the family with their arrangements (850-385-2193, www.bevisfh.com).

Tributes

Gayle Marie Dobson Connor

January 21, 1937 - June 21, 2026