Gayle Lynette Nashed

Gayle Hensley Nashed of Sun City, Texas went to the place prepared for her by her Savior in Heaven on October 10, 2023 as a result of brain cancer. She was a proud native Texan born in Cuero in 1947 to Thomas M. and Jurlyne J. Hensley. She lived there until she went to the University of Texas where she received a BA in History and English, as well as a teaching certificate in secondary education. She met her husband, Fouad (Fred) Nashed, there in 1969. She said he had been chosen especially for her, the love of her life. They were married for 47 years when Fouad was called to Heaven.

Gayle taught 6th grade in Edna, Texas, and then went on to work at Southwestern Bell in Houston before joining the American Red Cross in Winston-Salem, NC. She later transferred to the American Red Cross blood services-New England Region Headquarters in Dedham, MA. Gayle took early retirement in 2002 following a diagnosis of post-polio syndrome, the aftermath of having had polio during the 1952 epidemic. Gayle coped with polio weakness in her leg and arm for the rest of her life but lived as if that episode had never happened. Gayle and Fouad travelled all over the US and Europe, even going to Cairo, Egypt on two occasions to visit Fouad’s family and where she rode a camel. However, their favorite vacation spot was Disney World. Gayle and Fouad move to Sun City in Georgetown in 2002 and always felt it was the best decision of their lives. Gayle was active in the garden club, polio support group, beading club, as well as going to the fitness center three to four times a week with Fouad. They were members of the Wellspring Methodist Church.

She is survived by her friend, Paul McChesney; her “substantially younger” brother, Nelson Hensley and his wife, Julie; her cousin Elizabeth Pietsch; her nephew, Sam Hanna and his wife, Charlotte, and their large extended family who always included her in their family events and overwhelmed her with their love and generosity; and her great-niece, Shery Gurgis and family. Gayle is also survived by many loving friends.

Gayle and her family wish to thank Heart to Heart Hospice, especially Fran, for their care during her last journey, and HomeWell Care Services, especially Heather Hogan, for their loving attention to Gayle during that time. As much as Gayle loved plants and flowers (she always said she never met a plant she didn’t like, especially succulents), she asked in lieu of such things in her memory, a gift be given to a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldendavisfuneralhome.com for the Nashed family.