Gayle Mitchell

PEORIA - Gayle L. Mitchell, 58, of Peoria passed away Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, at UnityPoint Health-Methodist, after a hard struggle with cancer and pneumonia.

Gayle was born in Chicago on April 3, 1956, to David and Gail Brashear Israelson. Gayle first married Arlen Troeger of Peoria. In 1995, she married Michael Mitchell, who preceded her in death in 2007.

She also was preceded in death by her father, brother and two sisters.

She is survived by her mother, Gail (Charles) Seei of Edelstein; sons, Allen (Felicia) Troeger of Farmington and Oliver Mitchell; daughter, Jamie Troeger of Peoria; stepchildren, Michael Souba and Sandy and Robbie Mitchell; and grandchildren, Gavin, Caitlyn, Cody, Rachel, Alana, June, Brianna, Nicolas, Zander, Jasmine, Sammy, Nicole, Leesa and Ivory Rose. She is also survived by two sisters, Jennifer (Tim) Gill of Edelstein and Melissa McCoy of Peoria; and several nieces and nephews.

Gayle was a warm, loving person who tried to see and acknowledge the good in everyone. She worked hard and wasn't afraid to try just about anything at least once. She loved to work in her yard and grow flowers, berries for jelly and grapes for wine making. Gayle loved seeing new things and places and took a grand trip to Italy in 2008. Gayle was a great seamstress and could do anything with a needle and thread. She ran her own business for a time, Gayle's Golden Needle, and her card read "if I can't fix it, throw it away." Her cross-stitch works are like pieces of art. Gayle last worked for Bobbi's Bridal Shop, prior to her illness, and she made many brides and their attendants happy on the big day.

Gayle was a longtime member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 3601 N. North St., where a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, with a visitation one hour prior to the service in the church library. The Rev. Canon Ralph Stanwise will officiate. Cremation has been accorded and the ashes will be interred at a later date.

Memorials may be made to her church of to a charity of the donor's choice.

"Just when the caterpillar thought her life was over, she changed into a beautiful butterfly."