Gaylene Gregg

 

GREGG, GAYLENE (nee Nichols) passed away peacefully on October 2, 2026.  Born in Woodland, CA on May 10, 1938 to the late Lewis and Margaret Nichols. Her father was a barber in town and she loved running to his shop to see him after school. Her mother worked at the French Laundry on Main Street for many years. She is also pre-deceased by her close sister Norma Jean Smith.

 

Beloved wife of 45 years to the love of her life Byron, who preceded her in death in 2004.  Wonderful, loving mother to Steve (married to Karin) and Robert, and doting Oma to Laura, Jackson, Alexis, Gwendoline and Ellazan.  

 

Extended family and many, many friends will always remember Gaylene’s outgoing personality and bright smile.  A graduate of Woodland H.S., she was very active in student leadership and worked several jobs.  She taught Red Cross swimming and lifeguarding, baton twirling, and organized aquacades. She also worked at the Corner Drug, where her future father-in-law was a pharmacist/owner.  

 

Gaylene attended the University of the Pacific, where she was a Physical Education major and did volunteer work with the Delta Gamma Alumni Association. After marrying her high school sweetheart and starting a family in Los Angeles, she taught at the Pinecrest School in Tarzana.  

 

The family moved overseas in 1969, lived in England for three years and then Germany until 1996. During their time overseas, the Greggs traveled to many countries, but the Greek island of Rhodes was her and Byron’s favorite spot.  She also learned to ski and scuba dive.

 

While raising two sons, she was always working. She represented the Stateside Furniture Corp. catering to military returning to the US and was an assistant to Abdullah, a hand-woven rug vendor.  But her great joy was managing the Florentine Boutique, a gift shop, that featured special items from all over Europe.  As she said herself, “I was one of my own best customers!” She particularly loved her collection of Hummel figurines.

She and Byron traveled back to the U.S. on the QE2 in 1996 and made their home in Antelope, CA (one that included a pool that she had long dreamed of having). Many family and friends were hosted over the years, usually with Mexican food and margaritas. She regularly attended the Life With Spice weekly women’s group at Christ Community Church for nearly twenty years.

 

Special thanks to Claudia at Brookhaven Home in Citrus Heights for such loving, wonderful care during the last year and a half of her life.

 

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her memory to the American Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Association, or a favorite charity of your choice.

 

Services will be held at Woodland Methodist Church on Monday, October 12, 2026 at 9 am.