Gayle Rush Obituary

Gayle Lynne Rush

Oct 19, 1944 - Jul 27, 2023

Henderson, NV

Mrs. Gayle Lynne Smith Rush, 78, of Henderson, Nevada, passed away suddenly Thursday, July 27, 2023.

She was born Oct. 19, 1944, in New London, to Richard Lowell Smith and Marjorie Elizabeth Hickok Smith.

Gayle was devoted to her family and had numerous dear friends who she enjoyed spending time with laughing and sharing life's ups and downs, playing various card games and Mahjong, and just being in the moment. She cherished her involvement with the Desert Newcomers Club since 2016 and was an active participant in the Sun City McDonald Ranch community where she lived since 2012. She was a confidante and advisor to friends and family, young and old alike. She had an uncanny ability to put others first and people meeting her for the first time walked away feeling as though they'd just made a lifelong friend.

Gayle married Michael Herman Ritchey in Sept., 1963, in Port Richey, Florida. Together, they raised two children in Willard.

Gayle is survived by two children, James Michael Ritchey (wife, Cindy Ritchey) and Elizabeth Lynne Ritchey Frost (husband, Eric Frost Sr.); sister, Sara Sue Smith McKee (spouse, Devan McKee); four grandchildren, Nadine Strickland (husband, Dakotah Strickland), Alexis Muehling (husband, Ryan Muehling), Tareyn Jackson (wife, Jacqulyn Jackson), and Duran Jackson (wife, Charlee Jackson); and 11 great-grandchildren, Dylan (Mckallah) Blanton, Dalton Blanton, Dakota Blanton, Dixon Blanton, Jayden Strickland, Jaxson Strickland, Brody Muehling, Paisley Muehling, Caleb Jackson, Carter Jackson, and Charles Jackson.

She was preceded in death by her second husband, Charles "Gene" Rush, who she was wed to in June, 1996, in Huron; and sister, Mardic June Smith.

Gayle's celebration of life will be 12-2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, at Sun City McDonald Ranch Community Center, 2020 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Henderson, Nevada, 89012.