Gayle Marie Flakus

Gayle Marie Flakus was born in Vancouver, Washington on October 30, 1950 to Bob and Lois Flakus. She was the middle of three daughters and the family lived primarily along the West Coast following Bob’s construction career. Gayle grew up going to school in Washington and California but ultimately settled in Seattle, Washington when the family moved to the area so Bob could work on the construction of Interstate 5 in the early 1960’s. She graduated from Bishop Blanchet High School and then Western Washington University graduating in 1973 with her teaching degree in business.

She began her career with Monroe Business Machines near home in Seattle, moved to teach business and english in Clallam Bay, before settling at South Seattle Community College at Duwamish Skill Center were she assisted the director in running the admin department and formulated the budgets. After a vibrant and fulfilling career, Gayle retired from SSCC to care for mom who suffered with dementia.

Gayle was a very family oriented individual. She was close not only to her immediate family but to her many aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was equally close to her parents having moved in with them while she was still working to support their elder years. Gayle loved being an aunt to her five nieces and nephews and would often take them to Greenlake and organize movie nights where the kids got to spend the night at her apartment. Aside from local adventures, Gayle spent a summer with her family in the Dominican Republic and accompanied her niece on a school trip to Washington DC followed by other east coast trips, particularly enjoying Williamsburg. She joined her sister’s family for many of their annual trips to the Oregon Coast.

Gayle had a passion for animals. Over the years she adopted birds, cats, and dogs. One of her cockatiels, Max, was with her for over 20 years! Gayle leaves behind a nine year old Maltipoo named Gracie that the residents at the Chateau, the residence she moved into following Lois’s passing and for Gayle’s own health issues, have fallen in love with over the last seven years.

Her interests were widespread but tended to lean toward the arts - she enjoyed ushering at ACT theater, subscribed to Seattle Rep, and enjoyed visiting museums and shopping antique stores. Gayle loved to collect depression and antique glassware, often buying glass floats while she was at the Oregon Coast. She collected and displayed a variety of plush bears including the zany years of the TY collectibles. Additionally, Gayle leaned into her artistic nature at the Chateau - making her arts and crafts morning her favorite. She painted playful pieces of artwork and got better with each! She took added joy in displaying them around her apartment and halls for all to see.

Aside from the arts and crafts, Gayle particularly enjoyed the community at the Chateau - lunching with the ladies, hosting Seahawk game day parties, and going on the various outings offered by the Chateau. We are so grateful for the all that the Chateau provided for Gayle in her final years. The outpouring of affection and support at the end will not be forgotten.

Gayle is survived by her sisters, Barbara (John) Macfadden and Paula (Tom) Kingsley, and her nieces and nephews (Hilary, Darren, Alexa, Grant, and Chase), and her grandnieces (Audrianna, Rosalyn, and Callista).