Gayla K. Rathbun

Gayla grew up in Montgomery, Alabama where she attended and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School and was active in the Band. She attended secretarial school and went to work for a motorcycle dealership in Montgomery. It was there she met the love of her life, Marvin. They married and moved to California for a couple of years before moving back to the South to start a family.

Gayla loved being involved in so many things, from planning band and high school reunions to babysitting for family and friends. She loved to paint and would make cards to send to friends and family for all occasions. She enjoyed her job with the original Stallions Football team, as well as Tapscan Media. She retired after holding a position for many years as personal secretary to attorney, Charles Weldon. She also enjoyed working with the First and Ten Club of Alabama, but, mostly, she loved being a mom and raising her children, Marty and Dawn.

Gayla loved babysitting other children after her own two had grown up. Everyone who met Gayla, either face to face or on the computer through social media, always had something good to say about her. You couldn’t help but smile because that is how she always approached everyone, with a big smile. She never met a stranger and would strike up a conversation with anyone! She could make a cloudy day sunny without even trying. Everyone she came in contact with learned to love her and will miss her radiant smile.

Gayla was preceded in death by her father, John D. King; step-father, James D. (J.D.) Bozeman; mother, Frances Simmons Bozeman; husband of 55 years, Marvin Rathbun; son, Marvin (Marty) Rathbun, II; son-in-law, Richard (Ricky) Allen Linn; and sister-in-law, Margaret (Maggie) Jones.

Gayla is survived by her daughter, Dawn Linn, and a family of cousins who loved her dearly. She also has many lifelong friends who will miss her as well.

Services will be held Saturday, July 15, 2023 at the church Gayla loved so much. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. with services following at 2 p.m. at Crosscreek Baptist Church, 600 Crosscreek Trail, Pelham, AL 35124.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Crosscreek Baptist Church.