Gayle Evison Weyerbacher Begley died Friday morning, Nov. 15. She was born in Boonville, Indiana to Kenneth H. Weyerbacher and Lucy Belle Nolte Weyerbacher. After graduating from Boonville High School, Gayle attended Randolph Macon Women’s College in Virginia, for two years. She then attended Indiana University and completed a degree in French in 1950. After college, she moved back to Boonville and worked at Bernardin Bottle Cap Company in Evansville. Gayle was married to Joseph Begley, Jr., on Nov. 15, 1952 in Boonville.
Gayle believed in the importance of volunteering in her community. She served on the executive board of the Evansville Junior League as vice-president and recording secretary, and then as president from 1964 to 1965. She helped start the University of Evansville Theatre Society and was a longtime member on its Board. She also served as president of the University of Evansville Harlaxton Society.
Gayle was especially active with the Evansville Museum. She was a founding member of the Evansville Museum’s Docent Association and served as a docent for over 35 years. She received the Distinguished Service Award and the Lifetime Honorary Trustee Award from the Museum. Gayle and her husband Joe started the Begley Art Source at the Evansville Museum.
Gayle’s volunteerism was recognized by many awards. She received a Distinguished Service Award from the University of Evansville Theatre Society. In 1993, Gayle received the Community Leadership Award from the Junior League. In 2006, she was named Arts Advocate of the Year by the Arts Council of Southern Indiana.
Gayle was very social and liked organizing dinners and parties. She also enjoyed quilting. She made more than 30 colorful handmade quilts for family and friends, using many different designs with a variety of color schemes. In the mid and late 1990s, Gayle and her husband Joe took their grandchildren on several memorable vacations.
Gayle was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Kenneth William Weyerbacher, and her husband. She is survived by her two daughters, Carolyn Begley (Jiri Dadok) and Diane Goss (David), by her four grandchildren, Jennifer Thomas, Daniel Harrison, Clare Diefenbach and Joseph Diefenbach, and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday November 21, 2019 at Alexander East Chapel followed with burial at Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may visit on Wednesday from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the University of Evansville Theatre Department. University of Evansville Development Office, 1800 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, Indiana 47722 (memo Theatre).
