Beverly Gayle Goodman Wilkins

Beverly Gayle Goodman Wilkins passed away on June 23, 2023 at home in Salem, Oregon. She was a champion of her family, and although we always knew finances were extremely tight, she ensured the roof would stay over our heads, and food would be on the table. Gayle was always an active person, for a number of years she could frequently be found out on a golf course. She was still driving at 91, and except for a diagnosis of ALS at 92, would still be busy working, gardening, and cleaning today!

Gayle was a native Portlander, making her appearance on January 3, 1930 at Emanuel Hospital, when it was located in the west hills. Her mother was Dorean (a.k.a. Doreen) Opal Davis, her best pal. Her beloved father, who raised her, was Kenneth Goodman originally from Greeley, Colorado.

Gayle attended Couch, and Beaumont Elementary Schools and graduated from Grant High School. She excelled in all her studies, especially art, and was on the HS tennis team.

Gayle married Patrick Clifton Wilkins Sr in 1953. For some years she was a stay-at-home mother, raising one daughter and two sons.

After divorcing she worked a number of service industry jobs until she made her hobby, duplicate bridge, into a career! She owned two bridge clubs, the Cavendish Bridge Club in Portland, Oregon, and the River Bridge Club in Salem, Oregon. She taught classes and directed bridge games in various places in Portland and Salem. She became a Life Master of the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) in 1967 acquiring the number of points required through wins at tournaments, sectionals, regionals, and nationals. She actually managed to get herself on a plane for a national tournament in Hawaii’! Fear of flying wouldn’t stop that adventure! Gayle continued to work in her field until the pandemic shut everything down in March of 2020.

In 1997, Gayle remarried our father Patrick. Along with her son, Patrick, a.k.a. Clif, she was an integral component in caring for our father for the last 2-3 years of his life. He preceded her in death in 2022.

She is survived by three children, Kimberly Wilkins, Patrick Wilkins II, and Mason Wilkins, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be on July 21, 1:00, at Virgil T. Golden Funeral Services, 605 Commercial Street SE, Salem, Oregon. Light refreshments will be served after the service. All are welcome to attend.