Gayle McCorkle Sanger-Berry

Gayle McCorkle Sanger-Berry was born on Christmas Eve, 1914 to Fanny Mae and William Harvey McCorkle and became our Lord’s special angel on April 17th, 2013. She was a graduate of Clinton High School at the age of 16 with the distinction of receiving the Letzeiser Award, given for good citizenship and achievement.

She continued on to the University of Oklahoma. While at OU, she was a member of Chi Omega sorority, ROTC Queen, OU Band Queen, and Big Woman on Campus. In 1935 she received a Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts in Public-School Music specializing in violin.

She began teaching music in Ponca City, Oklahoma, where she met her beloved husband, Dr. Welborn Ward “Buck” Sanger, M.D. They were married 49 years. During World War II, they were stationed at Camp Gruber, near Muskogee, OK. until 1945 then moved to Oklahoma City.

They joined Westminster Presbyterian Church in its infancy and were an integral part of its development. While raising three children and being involved in their many activities, Gayle helped select Westminster’s first Minister of Music, conducted their first children’s choir, and researched and helped select the outstanding organ that is in their Sanctuary today.

Gayle was also a President of the Oklahoma Medical Auxiliary where she helped commission artist Peter Hurd’s painting “The Country Doctor” for The National Cowboy Hall of Fame. One of her greatest accomplishments was to establish The Symphony Hi-Notes, a city-wide organization of high-school students to encourage knowledge and love for classical music while the students ushered for the Oklahoma City Orchestral performances.

Gayle was dedicated to her family, her church, her friends and music. She was the epitome of a genuine lady in every sense of the word. At the age of 80, she married a prominent businessman, Oliver Washington Berry. They were able to spend 7 happy years together.