Long-time Quincy resident Gayle Jean (Welbourn) McMaster, passed away from this life, Sunday, May 26, 2024, at the age of 79 years young with her family at her side.
She was the daughter of George and Leslie Welbourn, born on March 14, 1945 in Red Bluff, California. Gayle had lived in Junction City, Kilarc, and at the age of 10 the family moved to the Feather River Canyon.
While living in the canyon, Gayle contracted polio and spent considerable time in the hospital. After being told she would never walk again, Gayle proved the doctors wrong with her determination and grit and successfully beat polio.
In 1963, Gayle graduated from Quincy Jr. Sr. High School. During this year she started dating Dude McMaster, and they married April 4, 1964. Dude and Gayle celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in April 2014, with their family and Sonia Monlux, their maid of honor.
During the first few years of their marriage, Gayle and Dude traveled all over Northern California until their first daughter Laura was born. In January 1967, they moved to Rock Crest Camp and Dude began his career with Pacific Gas & Electric Company. While living in the Feather River Canyon, Gayle and Dude had another daughter, Diana, and son Darrell. The family relocated to Quincy where Dude and Gayle built a home in East Quincy and lived there for the remainder of their lives.
Gayle, first and foremost, will always be remembered as a loving and caring wife, mother and grandmother who also loved her community. She belonged to Eta Alpha Sorority, Emblem Club, Eastern Star, PTA and was a Girl Scout Leader. Dude was a member of the Elks Lodge, who rose through the ranks, and Gayle enjoyed all of their Elk events and traveling adventures.
Once her children were older, Gayle worked as an orthodontist assistant, a bookkeeper and a manager for her brother-in-law at Don’s Carpets in Quincy. Gayle absolutely adored her grandchildren and adopted grandchildren. She was an avid reader and word search enthusiast, and loved John Wayne and Elvis Presley movies.
In passing, Gayle leaves daughters Laura Miller, her husband Don of Quincy, CA, Diana Ruch, her husband Robert of Quincy, CA; son Darrell McMaster of Quincy, CA; and brother Michael Welbourn of Loyalton, CA’ grandchildren Sierra McMaster of Fallon, NV, Parker McMaster, Morgan McMaster, Dylan Miller and Kaitlynn Miller, all of Quincy, CA. Gayle is preceded in death by her husband, Dude, where they are now eternally reunited.
A celebration of Gayle’s life will be held Friday, June 21, 2024 at The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints at 11 a.m. Immediately following the service, there will be a brief interment at Quincy East Lawn Cemetery, then a reception at the Quincy Elks Lodge. The family suggests in lieu of flowers any remembrances in Gayle’s memory be made to the Dude McMaster Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1966, Quincy, CA 95971.
