Gayle M Fischer

Gayle was born October 11, 1954, in Austin, Texas to C.A. and Evelyn Fischer. She passed away peacefully on September 1, 2026, in her home in Elgin, Texas.

Gayle was born into a large family with 8 siblings. She was the fifth child of nine, and she often reminded her siblings that as the middle child she possessed positive and good traits that they did not. Over the years it was clear that she was correct.

Gayle built long-lasting relationships with people throughout her life- from childhood friends to Facebook acquaintances. They appreciated her easy-going ways and her loyalty. She respected each individual, a trait which served her well throughout her life.

Gayle was employed at the Texas Workforce Commission for over 30 years beginning in the position of file clerk and ending as head of the department in records management. After retirement she volunteered for work at Austin Parks and Recreation Senior Activity Center. There she assisted administrative staff in coordinating a wide range of services and activities, including the annual pecan cracking and sales fundraiser. Her work there was very rewarding and Gayle again made friends with whom she remained in touch long after leaving the post.

Motherhood was another role for Gayle when in March of 1976 she became the proud mother of Rene. Gayle found need for her traits of adaptability and resilience in order to raise and support a daughter. Gayle became "Great Mom" with the births of Haley, Trevor and Koda and later a great-grandmother to Haley and husband Ethan’s children, Aiden and Eila. In addition, Gayle is Godmother to Eddy, son of Melissa.

Gayle reminded her siblings on occasion that her name meant ‘Father’s Favorite’ which we were all to understand as bestowing upon her a special piece of our Daddy’s love. The man instilled a love of football in all his children and Gayle established the Dallas Cowboys as her team. A signed photo of Roger Staubach was only one of the many souvenirs she collected as a devoted fan. Gayle would eventually become a bowler and join a league. The comradery of a team fit her needs and one year her team earned a trip to playoffs in Reno, Nevada. After watching the Houston Rockets Championship, Gayle came to appreciate basketball and the San Antonio Spurs became her team throughout and beyond the Timmy Duncan years.

The middle child in Gayle compelled her to be a performer so that she was not lost in the crowd of siblings. From an early age there are family photos of Gayle posing as a starlet on the beaches of Rockport, Texas during family vacation. In high school, at St Mary’s Academy, she played a role in the play and after school she put on soap opera like performances for her sister as they waited for Daddy to pick them up. Of hobbies, Gayle found special pleasure in using video recorders. She owned several over the years as the technology graduated. Being a middle child, Gayle was not content with the mere capture of family activities and festivities. Instead, she created and directed entire movies. Her Wizard of OZtin rendition featured a cardboard model of Dorothy’s house which whirled through the horror of a ceiling fan tornado. Characters were many times sock puppets who may play the role of real or imagined people. Gayle was definitely the videographer for all family occasions and every year she wrote a new version of the 12 Days of Christmas which she taped with the helpful voices of her daughter and sisters.

Many who were acquainted with Gayle knew that she enjoyed the hobby of genealogy. She was the steward of our family woodlands and her family branches included Fred’s wife Kim and their three children, Austin, Kris, and Marki, as well as Lisa, wife of Melinda and her children Zach, Blake and Grace. She also assisted others in searching for their family history including Rene and Haley's fathers' family lines and their spouse's family lines.

Gayle will always be remembered for her spirit and sense of humor and the way that she added fun to every family event. We’ll always imagine hearing her declaring how as the middle child she was special and Father’s favorite. We will never deny that she was indeed a special woman and we are all better for her having lived amongst us. We and a hoard of friends will miss her but cherish the memories she left with us.

Gayle was preceded in death by her parents C.A. and Evelyn; sisters Susan, Beverly, and Melissa; and brother Paul. She is survived by her siblings; Peggy, Claudia, Fred and Melinda; her daughter, Rene and son-in-law, Marshall Stigler; grandchildren, Haley Marie Berry (Ethan), Trevor and Koda; great-grandchildren Aiden Zachary and Eila Marie.

Gayle will be interred at Cook Walden Capitol Park. In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Gayle’s name to a charity of your own choosing.