Barbara Roberts Gunn Gayle

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Barbara Roberts Gunn Gayle, 97, who passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on August 9, 2025 in Lake Charles, LA. But it is with great joy that we celebrate her long and happy life.

She was born on April 23, 1928 in Martin, TN to James D. Roberts and Clara Atkins. 

She is survived by two children, Gordon S. Gunn, Jr. (Carol), of Austin,Texas, and Claire Elizabeth Gunn Manuel (Wayne) of Slidell, LA, as well as her granddaughter, Annemarie “Annie” Gunn, and great-grandson Leo Walker Gunn-Simonite of Austin, TX. 

She is pre-deceased by two husbands, Gordon S. “Sonny” Gunn, Sr. and James F. “Jim” Gayle, as well as her son, James Waddell “Jimy” Gunn of Austin, TX and her sister, Marcia Lynn Roberts Churns of Katy, TX. 

She was a well-loved member of the Enterprise Boulevard Church of Christ for many years and was their eldest member. She volunteered at the Speech and Hearing Center working with special needs children. 

She attended LSU where she met Sonny Gunn. They were married in Memphis, TN on July 17, 1948. Sonny went on to work at the drugstore owned and run by his family since 1897. After working as a successful real estate agent, Barbara was asked to work at the drugstore as an assistant to the gifts and cosmetics buyer. She went on to run those departments for many years and helped to make Gordon Drugstore the well-loved institution it is today. 

She loved music, from classical piano to Dixieland. 

She also loved the ocean. She and Sonny and the kids enjoyed deep-sea fishing in the Gulf. Then, in 1977, they discovered the island of Cozumel. She fell in love with the island and continued to visit every year, snorkeling and fishing, right up until she celebrated her 97th birthday there in April. “Cozumel is my soul’s home”, she said. “I feel closer to God on the beach than anywhere else on earth!” 

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at Enterprise Boulevard Church of Christ. Jeremy Folding and Cecil Price will officiate. Inurnment will follow in Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. A gathering of family and friends will begin on Friday, Sept 5 in the funeral home from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM and will continue in the church on Saturday from 12:00 PM until the start of the service.

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donation be made to: Enterprise Boulevard Church of Christ, 2801 Enterprise Blvd., Lake Charles, LA 70601 or to the Children’s Home in Cozumel, Ciudad de Angeles, 5240 Roswell Rd. NE, Marietta, GA 30062 or go online to donate at ciudaddeangeles.org.