October 12, 1932 – July 8, 2022

Sara Gayle Parker Baumgardner, 89, of Friendswood, Texas passed away on July 8, 2022 in Houston, Texas.  She was born to Neva Parker in San Antonio, Texas on October 12, 1932.

Gayle grew up on her grandfather’s farm 10 miles northwest of Coleman, Texas.  She graduated from Coleman High School in 1952.  After that she worked for the local telephone company until 1954.  At that time she moved to Dallas, Texas and started working for Braniff Airlines as a ticket agent in the airport.   In 1956 she moved to Lubbock, Texas as a ticket agent for Braniff in the Caprock Hotel.  A number of her high school friends had joined the Armed Forces and enrolled in Texas Tech working on degrees through the G.I. Bill.  One of them got in touch with Gayle and invited her to a Christmas party where she met Joe Horsley and Charles Baumgardner.  Joe gave her his phone number and she was calling Joe (who happened to be in class) and Charles answered the phone.  She was looking for a 4th to play bridge and Charles jumped right in to say “I play bridge”.

The rest is history:  10 months later on August 20, 1957 they were married. After Charles graduation from Texas Tech in June 1959 with a degree in Geology they began their travels to determine the rest of their lives.  They lived in numerous places such as El Paso, Ft. Worth, Woodward, Oklahoma and finally settled in Floydada, Texas where Charles began his career in public school education.  They joined an Episcopal church in Brownfield, Texas.

In January 1966 they adopted Shannon Gaye Baumgardner.  A couple years later in August 1968 the family moved to 802 Merribrook Lane in Friendswood, Texas.  Charles then began his career with Friendswood ISD as a teacher/administrator.  The first visitor, not from the neighborhood, was Pastor Bill Sterling (later Bishop Sterling) who invited them to attend services at Good Shepherd. 

Gayle made many friends and returned to the outside working world at Kaye’s Travel in 1972.  Gayle loved the travel industry, in May of 1975 she along with Maryann Hanover and Sandy Murtagh opened Friendswood Travel.  Gayle joined the Friendswood Chamber of Commerce and sponsored numerous socials.  She met many local citizens who became her customers and friends.

Gayle loved to travel, so the next 10 years she along with her partners and employees traveled most of the world.    After MaryAnn and Sandy retired, Gayle sold the agency to Sharon Graniere in 1995.

She and Charles retired in 2000 to travel, enjoy life and do whatever they wanted.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, July 25, 2022 at 2:00 P.M. at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 1207 Winding Way Dr., Friendswood, Texas with The Rev. Justin Briggle officiating.

Condolences may be sent to the family in care of Jeter Memorial Funeral Home at www.jeterfuneralhome.com.