Obituary

Gayle Eva Phillips Swanson, a truly loving wife, mother, friend, sister, educator, and child of God; passed away peacefully on April 18, 2025, surrounded by her family.

Gayle was born on July 15, 1941, in Portland Oregon, to Thomas (Al) Albert Phillips and Laura (Betty) Emily Sanderson. At a young age her family moved to Salina, Kansas, where she grew up. She met her husband, James (Jim) Gayfree Swanson, during their junior year of high school, both graduated from Emporia State University, then were married on September 2, 1962. They welcomed their daughter Kimberly Gayle to the world before moving to Illinois where they joyously expanded their family with their son Troy James and lived for 25 years.

Gayle was most passionate about her family and offered ongoing, deep support, service and love to her kids, husband and extended family all throughout her life.

Gayle was a lifelong learner and educator who taught Business classes at Lisle High School for 26 years, while earning a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University.  She enjoyed leading the American Field Services club for international exchange students, chaperoning high school students on trips to Washington DC and London, along with being a loyal fan of all teams that her husband coached, and in which her children participated.

Throughout her teaching career, she and Jim took an active role in the Illinois Education Association and participated in numerous national conventions.

They also enjoyed traveling in the summertime to visit family and friends as well as major excursions including driving their RV to Alaska, visiting their son in Spain and taking a tour of China.

After retiring from teaching, Gayle and Jim enjoyed collecting Imperial glass, becoming top collectors with over 2000 pieces.  Gayle served as board president of the National Imperial Glass Collectors’ Society for 10 years, attending many national conventions.

Her service to others never ended.  At Superstition Sunrise Resort, where they lived in Apache Junction, AZ for over 20 years, Gayle was an active member of the Computer Club where she taught courses.  Studying her ancestry also became a passion of hers in which she gathered and recorded much valuable family history. As an avid reader, she enthusiastically read to foster children and her four grandchildren.

Along with many others, Gayle is dearly loved by her daughter, Kim and husband, Kent Bostrom, and grandchildren Nicole, Ryan and Michael, Scottsdale, Arizona; son Troy and his wife Allison and son Bodey, London, England; sister Chris Watkins and son, Matt, Lenexa, Kansas.

Her burial and celebration of life will be in the afternoon on Friday, August 15, 2025, at Roselawn Memorial Park in Salina, Kansas. All are welcome to attend and details can be obtained by contacting Troy Swanson on Facebook.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored by donations in her name to St. Mary’s Food Bank at http://www.stmarysfoodbank.org.