Gayle Powell Mackay

GAYLE POWELL MACKAY of Taylorsville, Utah, peacefully passed from this mortal life on Thursday, February 23, 2023. She was born on November 13, 1932 in a private home in Millcreek, Salt Lake County, Utah, the oldest of five (5) children of Myron ‘Lefty’ Powell and Nellie Ellen Oreno Powell. On October 1, 1952, Gayle married her sweetheart Boyd Rex Mackay in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they raised ten children: Michael Boyd Mackay (deceased, December 28, 1966), Brad (Penny) Mackay, Kent (Cindy) Mackay, Bart (LuAnn) Mackay, Linda (Larry) Nash, Greg (Sheila) Mackay, Joel Mackay, Susan (Drew) Purdy, Bret (Barbra) Mackay, and Ellen (Darren) Idler.

Soon after marriage, Boyd and Gayle moved their small family from Taylorsville to the Columbia Basin area of eastern Washington to establish a farm and raise their growing family. Gayle was a tireless source of energy and encouragement to Boyd and the farming operation in those challenging years. In fact, Gayle was ultimately capable of operating all aspects on the farm, from field preparation, seeding, cultivation, and irrigation to crop harvest and transport. After returning to Taylorsville in 1984, she began a second career with the State of Utah, ultimately retiring in 2009 after 24 years of service.

For Gayle, family was and is everything, her greatest treasures in life. From securing a bus driver’s license so that she could attend all the away games for her children’s school athletic teams to constantly putting together birthday or other cards to be delivered on a special occasion for her grand-children or great-grandchildren, she worked diligently to know, show love and serve each one individually. Nothing brought her greater joy than being with and supporting her family.

Gayle is survived by 9 children; 37 grandchildren; and 120 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers David (Elaine) Powell and Neil (Sondra) Powell. She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-four years, Boyd (deceased October 17, 2016), her oldest child Michael (deceased December 28, 1966), her parents, and her sisters Kay Kent and Patricia Walk.

A funeral service will be held at the Taylorsville 15th Ward Building at 1457 W. Atherton Drive, Taylorsville, Utah, on Friday, March 3 at 11:00 a.m. A viewing will be held immediately preceding the funeral from 9:30 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. Interment will take place at the Valley View Memorial Park.