Gayle Patricia Tippets

Gayle Patricia (Jepson) Tippets, beloved mother, nana, and sister, passed away peacefully in Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday, November 16th, 2024 at the age of 82. Born on October 5, 1942, in Wellington, New Zealand to Catherine Elizabeth Kemp and Eric Wallace Jepson. She was the cherished sister of Denise, Beverley, Graham, Norman, and her surviving brother, Ian. 

Gayle’s journey of faith and learning began as a young girl growing up in Auckland, New Zealand. Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints introduced her to the gospel and she was baptized. She attended Church College of New Zealand for high school and eventually Church College of Hawaii where she made wonderful lifelong friends and met her future husband, Glenn L Tippets Jr. They were married in the Oakland Temple and together raised four children: Julie, Kevan, Brian, and Gary. 

Gayle’s early married life was filled with adventure. After having Julie in Sacramento, CA, they moved to Tonga where she taught at Liahona High School. There she gave birth to her son, Kevan Matthew in Nuku`alofa, Tongatapu, Tonga. They then moved back to Sacramento where they were blessed with two more sons, Brian and Gary. Gayle sadly became a widow after Glenn’s untimely passing. Following this difficult loss, Gayle moved with her children to Orem, Utah. She also lost her beloved son, Kevan, in a tragic car accident. Through her heavy trials and challenges in life, she always gave her children the best experiences possible. She made many sacrifices ensuring they were her top priority. 

As the children aged, she decided to act on her lifelong passion for teaching. She obtained her Master’s of Special Education from BYU and continued on to excel as a school teacher. When she retired from teaching, she was called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in her homeland of New Zealand. This was a precious gift as she was able to strengthen and create relationships with her family after so many years away. Once back home in Utah, she continued to serve as a missionary in Salt Lake City where she dedicated over a decade of her life helping others learn about their family history.

Gayle loved attending cultural events with her friends and family. She somehow always ended up with extra tickets to symphonies, concerts, plays, and church devotionals. Yet, above all, she treasured every moment spent with her beloved grandchildren and children supporting them in their activities. No matter where she went, Nana was sure to turn strangers into friends. She was outgoing and kind and wanted to spread her Christ-centered attributes to all that would listen. Her family meant the world to her and it was her mission to ensure they knew this. This light within her will be sorely missed.

Gayle is survived by three of her children: Julie (Richard) Jones, Brian (Stephanie) Tippets, Gary (Jennifer) Tippets, her 10 grandchildren, one great grandchild, and her brother, Ian Jepson. She is preceded in death by her husband, Glenn; her son, Kevan; her parents; and her older siblings. 

Gayle’s deep faith and devotion to her Savior, Jesus Christ, defined her life. She strived to live as an obedient daughter of her Heavenly Father, setting an example of love, service, and resilience. 

Her family and all who knew her will miss her dearly. They take comfort in the knowledge that she is joyfully reunited with her treasured loved ones in eternal peace. 

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, November 26th at the Church of Jesus Christs of Latter-day Saints located at 135 A St. Salt Lake City, UT 84103 with a viewing one hour prior to services.