Gaynell Berry Waldo, age 86, of Tallahassee and St. George Island, Florida, passed away unexpectedly on August 25, 2023, after a brief illness. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Gordon Payne Waldo; her son, Donald Berry Waldo; grandchildren Stuart Gordon Waldo and Stephanie Gaynell Waldo; and her adored great-grandson Myles Christian Waldo. She loved her immediate and extended family deeply and will be remembered fondly by all, including many cherished in-laws, nieces and nephews, friends, and a lifetime of pets, most recently Tally and Champ, who already miss her very much.
Gaynell attended Flora MacDonald College where she earned a degree in mathematics and went on to become a public-school math teacher. She taught briefly in Cary, Asheville, and Concord, North Carolina, in Columbus, Ohio, and in Los Angeles, California. After moving to Tallahassee, she also taught in Monticello, Florida, and finally in Tallahassee, never complaining, as she followed her husband as his career developed. She completed 30 years of service at Leon High School in Tallahassee, Florida, where she taught the school's first computer science class in 1973.
She retired to pursue her hobbies, especially oil painting and photography. She also enjoyed reading, working puzzles on the internet, traveling, and was able to visit several countries in Europe, Asia, and South America, as well as many parts of North America.
Gaynell was a very talented painter of family and animal portraits as well as nature scenes and her paintings can be found in numerous family homes. She never painted for profit, only for herself and others to enjoy. She was a lover of Elvis, chardonnay, slapstick comedy, mystery novels, and the color purple. She was a long-time member of the Florida League of Women Voters, Leon High School Retired Teachers Association, and a local book club. She was also a devoted champion of civil rights and very concerned about the environment.
At this time, no formal services are planned. In memory of Gaynell, the family asks that donations be made to any civil rights or environmental organization that can help to solve the many problems facing the country today. It would please Gaynell very much.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CulleysMeadowWoodFuneral.com for the Waldo family.
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