Gayle Crane Kuykendall

October 20, 1931 - August 14, 2015
Gayle Kuykendall's life of 83 years was lived with grace, beauty, strength, and courage. Born in Del Rio and raised on the family ranch in Cross, Texas just outside Tilden, Gayle was the only daughter of Annie (Annie Maw) and Jesse Priest Crain, who both served consecutively as County Judge of McMullen County from 1950 to 1974. Her formal education started in a one room school house in Cross until she went to high school at San MarcosBaptist Academy. She helped out in the family retail and ranching business and would go on to earn a degree in interior design from St. Mary's University. This sophisticated South Texas rancher, who had a successful business career in San Antonio, never forgot her roots in McMullen County.

Gayle married the love of her life, cowboy and rancher Robert Kuykendall of Fowlerton, Texas. They continued the family ranching business in McMullen County and across South Texas. Together they had three daughters, Patsy Ann Kuykendall, Kay Kuykendall O'Quinn, and Robbie Grace Kuykendall.

A few years after the birth of her youngest daughter, Gayle moved her family to San Antonio where she went to work with John Santikos. It wasn't long thereafter that she started her own small business of hotel gift shops, the first being at the Hilton Palacio del Rio. She was a savvy business woman who grew her business to include gift shops in hotels across downtown and the north side of San Antonio. She had a great eye for stocking unique items from jewelry to clothing. Her friendly, customer service brought smiles to travelers and locals alike. Gayle was a great Ambassador for San Antonio, as were her long time employees who helped make this small woman owned business a success for 30 years.

Gayle enjoyed the simple, important things in life - family, friends, home cooked dinners and seeing the world with family and friends. She loved the holidays, especially the splendors and spiritual significance of Christmas and Easter. She was a member of Castle Hills Baptist Church.

Gayle captured your heart for the way she gave love - genuinely and unconditionally. She always put others before herself and with a Mother's eye, found the good in everyone. Her faith and strength of character carried her through two of life's most difficult tragedies, the loss of her daughters, Patsy in 2001 and Kay in 2006.

This Matriarch of the Crain Kuykendall Family is survived by her youngest daughter Robbie Kuykendall and boyfriend Mike O'Neil; three grandchildren she adored: Konrad Kuykendall and wife Annyce and their children Lane and Rafe; Tori O'Quinn; and Will O'Quinn; son in law Jeff O'Quinn and wife Debbie; along with numerous cousins. The family extends their gratitude to care giver Betty Williams for her loving care in Gayle's final years. They treated each other like the sisters they never had.

A viewing with family is scheduled for Thursday, August 20 from 5pm to 7pm at Hurley's Funeral Home in Pleasanton, Texas, followed by services on Friday, August 21 beginning at 10:00am. A reception will follow at the Pleasanton Civic Center. A private family burial will take place at the San Miguel Cemetery in Cross, Texas. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Archer Service Center in Archer City, Texas or to a charity of your choice in memory of this great lady who transformed the world around her by serving and loving others. May Gayle's life inspire us to live as she did - with a servant's heart. Anyone wishing to sign the guestbook, share memories, or issue condolences can do so at www.hurleyfuneralhome.com.