FARMINGTON – Gayle Marie Taylor Davis, 70, surrounded by family, found eternal peace on Wednesday, Feb. 2, resulting from complications of a long term respiratory disease.

She was born Dec. 6, 1934, in Strong, to Maurice and Fannie Richards Taylor. She was the youngest of two children.

She attended schools in Farmington, graduating from Farmington High School in 1953. She was employed by Ward Brothers, in Lewiston, after graduating from Westbrook Junior College with a degree in retailing and merchandising.

She married high school sweetheart, Ed Davis, on Nov. 27, 1955. Gayle raised four children while they made their home in Stillwater, Greene, and Monmouth, while Ed served in the Maine State Police. They moved their family back to Farmington to join the Davis Brothers Builders. With the help of their four children, they built their home on Town Farm Road. Gayle was employed by Emery’s Fashions, and later worked at Davis Brothers Building Materials.

In 1978 Gayle and Ed purchased the Harvey Gilbert Farm on Route 2 in Farmington, where they opened an R.V. dealership, Good Times Unlimited. They were honored with the 2004 Farmington Rotary Club Entrepreneur Award.

Gayle loved life and treasured her family. She had many interests during her lifetime. While in school, she loved riding her Morgan mare, Lady, around the riding trails in Farmington, often joining other friends on horseback. For several years she was the grand marshal for the Farmington Fair Horse Races. She participated in several high school sports. Her love of horses found her traveling the state as a licensed equitation judge. She loved the out-of-doors and trail riding with other horse riding friends. Gayle helped organize and operate the Maine 100 Mile Endurance Ride that was based at the Farmington Fairgrounds. She loved animals, including fowl of all kinds and bred purebred dogs from an early age. She had a soft spot in her heart for moose and loons. Gayle supported local and national dog and animal organizations, one being the Farmington Kennel Club, that was involved with the founding of the Farmington County Animal Shelter.

As a loving parent she was involved in and supported the activities of her children and grandchildren. Gayle was a member of the Old South Church, UCC. She served as a ski school director for Titcomb Mountains Ski Slope.

She loved to go camping and traveling around Maine and neighboring states with her family supporting their canoe racing endeavors. She was an avid quilter and enjoyed sewing, knitting, painting and family snowmobile rides. She loved her husband’s and daughter Debbie’s flower gardens. Over her lifetime, her menagerie of pets was numerous and highly varied. She looked forward to her social hour at Hannaford’s Supermarket. Gayle especially loved Christmas; the giving of gifts, her Santa collection, and the special family time. She found beauty in simple things. Gayle unselfishly dedicated her life to her husband of 49 years and her children. She treasured her grandchildren and was a surrogate grandmother to many other “babies.”

She is survived by her loving husband, Edgar; and four children, Deborah Davis and husband, Richard Robinson, of Farmington, Jason Davis and wife, Roxanne Browne of New Sharon, Jill Davis and fiance, Mitchell Boulette, and Jonathan Davis and wife, Marti Adams, all of Farmington; six grandchildren, Aaron Abbott, Troy Adams and fiance, Jessica Taylor, of Farmington, Justin and Ryan Davis of New Sharon, Kyle Davis and fiance, Megan Goucher, of Vienna, and Jessica Davis of Farmington; three step-grandsons, Mark Robinson and wife, Deanna, of Menomonee Falls, Wis., Jeffrey Robinson and wife, Kathy, of Shrewsbury, Mass., and Trent Robinson of Evergreen, Colo.; and 4 step-great-grandchildren, Courtney and Luke Robinson, Olivia and Brooke Robinson.

She was predeceased by her sister, June Taylor.

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