Gayle Cooke Sylvester

Gayle Cooke Sylvester, age 79 of Roseville, died at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit on April 19, 2021. She was born on October 21, 1941, in Northville, Michigan to her late parents, Mack and Aileen Edith (nee: Cook) Porter. 

Gayle was born in Northville, Michigan and grew up in Dearborn and Novi as an only child. She attended Dearborn High School and went on to Henry Ford Community College and Ferris State University. Gayle eventually worked as a loan counselor for a mortgage company. Although she was an only child, Gayle made many lifelong friends whom she considered siblings. First there was Pat, Judy, Judy-Ann, and Kathy—her best friends since kindergarten and still would meet up with regularly for lunches. Gayle and her first husband, Stephen Bethea Sr., were very good friends with Bob and Carrie Luckey. Although her first marriage to Stephen ended, she remained very close friends with him and his wife Cynthia even after his passing. After Gayle entered the workforce, she met Cynthia and Sandra.

On July 6, 1985, Gayle married Ronald Sylvester. The two blended their families and she loved his family like her own. She even would take in her children’s friends and wayward kids and treat them like part of the family. Gayle loved nothing more than spending time with her family. She especially doted on her grandchildren. She attended every school and sporting event she could. If you were around for a family meal, you may have experienced some of Gayle’s experimental cooking. She would have recipes around the house, but you never quite knew what they were for. Gayle loved to travel, and she always took the scenic route. She often would go camping with Ronald and would visit his nephew’s cottage on the lake in Canada. Gayle also loved animals, and she enjoyed learning about history, especially her family history and genealogy.

Gayle was a straightforward person. She would tell you like it is, and she always had the last word. Gayle was also the most selfless person. She always put others first, and wanted to make sure her children were taught valuable lessons like reading and learning. All she ever wanted for Christmas every year was to be able to spoil her children and grandchildren. Gayle was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and best friend. She will be missed immensely and loved eternally by all who were blessed to know her.

Gayle was the beloved wife of Ronald. Dear mother of Stephen Bethea Jr., Lisa (Trent) Larkin, Elaine (fiancé, James Salsbury) Bethea, Evelyn (Scot) Phipps, and Jamie (Junior) Barrios. Loving grandmother of Robert, Tristan, Cassandra, Shea, Rick, Robert, Will, Ethan. Bela, Christopher, and Madison. Adored great-grandmother of Kileey, J.J., Tori, Peyton, and Daebriel. Former wife of the late Stephen (Cynthia) Bethea Sr., Gayle is also survived by many lifetime friends who were like family to her.

Visitation for Gayle will be held on Saturday, April 24th from 3-9 pm at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 ½ Mile Rd) in Warren. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday at 6pm. The service will be live streamed by the family. Click HERE to join the service for Gayle.

Memorial donations in Gayle's name are appreciate to the American Heart Association.  

Please share memories of Gayle at her guest book below.