Celebrating a Legacy of Service with Southern Oregon Goodwill
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Gayle Byrne, on January 8th at the age of 85 with her daughter and husband by her side. As a cherished member of the Southern Oregon Goodwill family, Gayle’s dedication and commitment to the organization left an indelible mark on both her colleagues and the community she served for over 37 years.
Gayle joined Southern Oregon Goodwill in 1977 as the Rehabilitation Director, seeing the organization through its initial CARF accreditation in 1980. She was then promoted to CEO in 1981 and worked tirelessly until her retirement in 2014 to elevate opportunities for individuals to gain the skills and confidence needed to secure meaningful employment, fostering self-sufficiency and hope across Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Douglas and Lake Counties in Southern Oregon and Siskiyou County in Northern California.
During Gayle’s tenure, the local nonprofit organization had seen the depth of services widen by expanding the profile of “underserved” population who receive Goodwill services. What started in Grants Pass in 1967 as an agency focused on vocational development for persons with disabilities, serving 48 people annually, Southern Oregon Goodwill grew to include career services to persons with “barriers.” These barriers ranged from financial hardship or poverty to limited opportunities due to a lack of education, experience, skills, or criminal conviction. By the time of retirement, the number of people benefiting had increased to over 3,000.
Another significant achievement under Gayle’s Leadership was the opening of five Job Connections Centers, all of which were fully funded by Goodwill through the sale of donated items in retail stores. Since the first location opened in August of 2012, tens of thousands of Southern Oregonians and Northern Californian’s have received assistance with resume preparation, interview skills, and connecting with potential employers.
Her passion for Goodwill expanded to the community as a whole, serving on numerous Boards, including Asante Healthcare (Rogue Regional Medical Center), Chamber of Medford/Jackson County, ACCESS Inc., and Living Opportunities, to name a few. She was one of the first five women admitted to the local Medford Rogue Rotary in 1989. Nationally, she served as Vice Chair and Secretary for the California Association of Goodwills, chairperson for Goodwill’s Northwest Regional Association, along with participating in several national committees through Goodwill Industries International.
Gayle was born in 1939 to Walter and Naomi Childress in Medford and was the fourth of five children. She graduated from Crater High School in 1957 and attended the University of Oregon where she received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science. Gayle was married to Victor Pagel (div) and James Smith (div) before proposing to her longtime love Michael Byrne and marrying in 1982. They had dated in their early twenties when she was a waitress and then found each other again years later. Gayle had a daughter, Natalie, with her second husband and was stepmother to two boys, James Smith Jr. and Sean Smith.
Gayle is survived by her husband, Michael Byrne; daughter and son-in law, Natalie and David McCoy; grandchild Finlay McCoy; sister and brother-in-law, Erma and Gordon Layton; sister Judy Bamforth; step-son and wife, James Jr and Laura Smith; grandchildren, Bennett & Parker Smith; step-son and partner, Sean Smith and Harriet Janman; grandson Alexander Smith; plus numerous nieces, nephews and grand and great nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at the Perl Funeral Home in Medford, OR on Sunday, January 19, 2025 beginning at 1pm.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Crater Foundation in her honor.
To share a memory for a family keepsake, please use the link provided by Perl Funeral Home in her name.
