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Gayla Sanford
Gayla Jean Sanford, 79, of King Hill, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009, in an automobile accident.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. at the Glenns Ferry VFW Hall and burial will follow at Glenn Rest Cemetery in Glenns Ferry. Arrangements are under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.
Gayla was born on April 21, 1930, in Boise, to Joseph and Virginia Thomsen. She grew up in Glenns Ferry and was active in many activities, including Jobšs Daughters, singing and was a majorette at Glenns Ferry High School. Gayla was married to her high school sweetheart, John Sanford, on Aug. 30, 1950, at the Methodist Church in Glenns Ferry. They both attended the University of Idaho in Moscow. They had all three of their children while living in Moscow; John "Corb", Beckie, and Dan.
After graduating they moved back to Southern Idaho and John went to work at GMAC and she was a substitute teacher in Caldwell.
In 1961 John was transferred to Oregon and she raised her family in Medford, Ashland and Eugene. While they lived there, Gayla became gemologist, volunteer nursešs aide at different nursing facilities and was very active in her sorority and the Red Hat Society.
In 1969 they returned to Boise where John started his own insurance company that he and his family ran until 2000. John and Gayla also ran J-G Ranches in Meridian and Glenns Ferry and were very active in many horse associations like NFSBF, NCHA, NQHBA, Gem County Quarter Horse and AQHA.
Gayla is survived by her son John Corbett (Feng), Boise, a daughter, Rebecca J. (Eric) Critchlow, Glenns Ferry, and son Daniel C. Sanford (Carla), Boise, a sister Shirley Fackrell, Boise, three brothers: Jack Thomsen, Pocatello, Ronald Thomsen, Gig Harbor, Wash., Steven Thomsen, Pocatello, eight grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband John (9/4/09), her parents, and two grandchildren, Jeffrey Thomas Seamons and Stephanie Wynn Seamons.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Gaylašs memory to the Three Island Senior Center, 502 W. Cleveland Ave, Glenns Ferry, ID 83633