Mary Kathryn Gayleard

Mary Kathryn Gayleard
November 27, 1916 - April 11, 2011
Kalona, Iowa
Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. April 14, 2011 at Prairie Flower Baptist Church, rural Washington
Mary Kathryn Gayleard age 94 died April 11, 2011 at her home in Kalona. Mary Kathryn Dye was born November 27, 1916, in Freed West Virginia, one of eight children, born to Judson and Icy Dye. She grew up on a farm in the mountains of West Virginia. As a child she helped with the farm chores and took care of her younger siblings. After graduation from Calhoun County High School, she worked as a dental assistant in Clarksburg, West Virginia. In 1943 she graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan University as a draftsman. During World War II, she worked as a civilian for the U.S Army at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in the Military Intelligence Department as a draftsman. One of her projects was assisting in drafting the design for the B-17 bomber, one of which was The Memphis Belle. It was at Wright Patterson that she met her husband to be, Walter Gayleard, while he was serving in the military. They were married on June 24, 1944, and eventually moved to Maryland and started a family. Later, she assisted her husband in their locksmith business making appointments, keeping the books, and answering phones. One of the things Mary loved was gardening. She grew a variety of vegetables and fruit trees, and she canned a large quantity every year. She could take a small plot of ground and make a beautiful garden, even in a small backyard. For many years, Mary was involved in her church in Mt. Rainier, Maryland. She taught Sunday school and attended faithfully. She was always asked to make her special coconut cake for church dinners. In 1987, Walter and Mary retired and moved to Florida. Walter passed away in 1997, and Mary sold her home and came to live with her daughter. In 2003, the family moved to Kalona, Iowa. Mary is survived by her three sons, Robert Gayleard of Charlotte Hall, Maryland; David Gayleard of Bel Air, Maryland; Larry Gayleard of Banning, California; and Linda Fiordelise of Kalona, Iowa; one sister, Lillian Manninen of Fairport, Ohio; five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 14, 2011 at the Prairie Flower Baptist Church in rural Washington. Burial will be in the Sharon Hill Cemetery in Kalona. There will be no visitation. The Yoder-Powell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.