BOMBER MEMORIAL
GAYLE MARIE HARRISON SARAN ~ Class of 1966
August 22, 1948 - December 23, 2017
Gayle was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many. She passed away at the age of 69 on December 23, 2017 at Kadlec Medical Center with her family by her side.
Gayle was born August 22, 1948 as the only child of Thelma and Ray Harrison. She was raised in Kellogg, ID and Richland.
She attended Chief Jo Junior High School and graduated with the Class of 1966 from Richland's Columbia High School as a proud Bomber. She then studied journalism at Eastern Washington University.
Gayle had her only child, Jennifer, from a previous marriage when she was 23. Together, they lived in Coeur d'Alene, ID and Kent, WA.
Gayle and her husband, Michael Saran, were together for 38 years and enjoyed living on Whidbey Island for 20 years before moving back to Richland.
Her main hobbies were photography and animals. Her passion for animals was legendary.
During her working years, her main focus was on writing and photography. She worked for The Coeur d'Alene Press, Mercer Island Reporter and numerous other publications in the Northwest. Then for many years she worked as editor for RV Life/RV Today. Gayle's last writing position was at the South Whidbey Record, where she was a reporter and photographer for seven years. She also coordinated the Temple Women's Overflow Shelter on Capitol Hill for many years.
Gayle was preceded in death by her in-laws, Dorothy and Marshal Saran; her mother, Thelma; and many favorite aunts, uncles and cousins.
She is survived by her husband, Michael; her father, Ray; her daughter and son-in law, Jennifer and Jason; her adoring grandsons, Griffin and Truman Waller; and her lovable dog, Riley.
The family would like to express our sincere gratitude to her caregivers who were so kind and wonderful with her these last couple of years.
If you would like to make a donation in her name, Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels or a no-kill animal shelter would be great choices.
Published in the Tri-City Herald on January 7, 2018.