Gayle Bankhead

Gayle Champneys Bankhead, 77, of Mesa, AZ passed away on July 1, 2026 after a long and courageous battle with Lymphoma. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend whose love, humor, and selfless devotion touched so many.

Gayle was born September 20, 1948, in Ogden, Utah, to loving parents, Thomas DeRay and Florence Hart Champneys. She had a joyful childhood, often reminiscing of her earlier years filled with neighborhood games, dances, and high school basketball. After graduation from Ben Lomond High School, she went on to work at McKay Dee Hospital moving her way up from elevator attendant to the accounting department.

In 1971, a blind date led to meeting her future husband, Mark J. Bankhead. They were married in the Logan Utah Temple. She enjoyed newlywed life, watching the college football games, and working in the accounting department at Utah State University while Mark attended school. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Mesa, Arizona where they welcomed five children over the years. As a devoted wife and mother, she was a steady anchor in her home offering love, strength, and an unwavering commitment to her family.

She spent many years working as an elementary instructional assistant using her natural creativity to bring excitement to learning. Throughout her life she served willingly and joyfully in many church auxiliaries including Young Women, Primary, Scouting, and Relief Society. Her faithful discipleship was evident through her selfless service and daily living.

Gayle found joy in life’s simple pleasures such as reading, perfecting her bread recipe, volunteering at the hospital, traveling, serving a genealogy mission, and bicycling regularly reaching up to 28 miles a day well into her seventies.

Becoming “Grandma” brought her immeasurable joy. She had the remarkable gift of making each grandchild feel endlessly encourage and uniquely cherished. Her home was the gathering place where snacks were stocked, games were played, sleepovers were had, and treasured memories were made.

Although our hearts are broken by her passing, we are forever grateful for her influential example of strength, perseverance, faith, and compassion. Her memory will continue to shape her family and others for generations to come.

She is preceded in death by her parents and a grandson, Ryan A. Bankhead. Gayle is survived by her husband, Mark J. Bankhead; son Jason M. Bankhead (Ashley), Aaron T. Bankhead (Jennifer), Melissa Perry (Jason), Adam R. Bankhead, and Megan Brown (Brandon), eighteen grandchildren, and siblings: Norma Love, Renee Jeppsen (Brent), and Wanda Knight (Val).

A visitation service will be held Thursday July 9, 2026 at Bunker Mortuary, 33 North Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ 85201 from 6:00-8:00pm. A second visitation will take place Saturday July 11, 2026 at Meyers Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd. Ogden, UT 84404 from 10:00-11:00am. Interment will be at the Paradise City Utah Cemetery.