Gayle Dunlap Young

Gayle Wynette Dunlap Young was born November 20, 1940, to Brownie Clayton Dunlap and Coy Simpson Dunlap, the younger of two children. She was a sensitive, inquisitive, imaginative child who loved her family and most especially her older brother Buddy. She grew up writing stories of all sorts, including the occasional revenge story where she got even in writing with those who had hurt her.

Her most fervent wish in life was to have children, and her four children were the delight of her life, She was blessed to find the man of her dreams, Larry Young, whom she wed in 1991. Her kind soul also led her to rescue people and animals, including adopting some of the most neurotic and needy of both species.

She was a highly skilled legal secretary, much admired and liked by those who were fortunate enough to work with her, but her lifelong ambition was to be an author. After retiring, she was finally able to write the books that had been in her head for years. After some trial and error, she found her niche in humor and mystery, publishing a funny memoir about her writing journey, Redbirds, Roses, and Ghosts, which won the 2019 Foreward INDIES award for nonfiction humor, and a mystery novel, Dirty Pink. Her final novel will be finished posthumously.

She stayed active in other ways in retirement. She graduated cum laude from Calhoun Community College in Decatur, Alabama, in May 2022. Her journey didn’t come without challenges—technology and math were not kind to her—but the moment her daughter was able to award her a degree while the entire family watched and cheered and the faculty, staff, and students gave her a standing ovation was worth all the struggles. A few months later, the State of Alabama recognized her achievement with a proclamation, and several news organizations shared her inspirational story. She also remained physically active into her 80s, up until ALS; she loved water aerobics and walking hills in her neighborhood with her dogs.

Her battle with ALS did not diminish her interest in learning, nor her sense of fun. She loved playing jokes on her family and having them tease her. One of the highlights of her last year was having an Elvis impersonator sing for her birthday while her family sang and danced.

She will be deeply missed by those she leaves behind, including her husband, Larry Young; children Donna Estill (Robert Oswalt), David Estill, Deborah Anderson (Steve), and Donald Bower; grandchildren Kayla and Chase Bower, Carlen Anderson, and Crimson, Garrett, Elijah, and Johainen Boggan; and stepdaughter Christina Boggan (David). She was preceded in death and looked forward to reuniting with her parents Brownie and Forney Lester “Chick” Ray and Coy Simpson Dunlap, and her beloved big brother Coy “Buddy” Dunlap.

Remembrance services will be held at Ridout’s Trussville Chapel, 1500 Gadsden Hwy, Birmingham, AL 35235, on Saturday, June 20. A gathering will begin at 12:00, with a Celebration of Life to Follow at 1:00.

Gayle Young was a bright light, and the world is dimmer for her passing, but her legacy of supporting education will live on. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you support her love for education by donating to the Gayle Young Memorial Scholarship: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=calhouncc&id=356.