Gayle Sharon Ernst, born November 18, 1937 in Dayton, Ohio as Gayle Sharon Rutan went to be with our Lord on June 24, 2026. She is pre-deceased by her ex-husband Thomas Ernst, her father Marvin Rutan and her mother Hedge Rutan. She is survived by her two sons Mark Ernst and Michael Ernst and their families.

Gayle grew up in Dayton, Ohio and attended classes at University of Cincinnati before marrying Thomas Ernst and starting a family. She loved ice skating and trained diligently to nearly join the U.S. Olympic team training with them in Piqua, Ohio. She and her young family moved up to Birmingham, Michigan in 1968. After a divorce, she was engaged in administrative positions with Knoll Furniture, and Christ Church Cranbrook. Her passion was the arts and dance. Gayle started the FAR Conservatory of Performing Arts in Birmingham, Michigan, housed within the First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham for the benefit of teaching dance and arts to the deaf and disabled. She began a companion program teaching ice skating to the same students.

Gayle moved down to St. Petersberg, Florida to live and care for her mother in her retirement. Gayle proudly served in an administrative capacity to the Fire chief of St. Petersberg and was active in community events and preparedness.

After her retirement, Gayle moved to Orlando, Florida to live near her son Michael’s family. She met close friends while volunteering at Winter Park Hospital. She also had the pleasure of making a dear friend and wrote a published short story about their love relationship found in older age, appearing in Hot Chocolate for Seniors.

Gayle peacefully went to be with our Lord after a period of hospice care in Winter Park, Florida.

She will be remembered by her family and friends as a very loving, active, caring woman that loved her family, animals, serving others and appreciating all that is beautiful, particularly expressions of beauty in art and dance.