Ruth Gayle Markey

Ruth "Gayle" Markey, 90, of New Bedford, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. A native of New Bedford and the daughter of the late Raymond and Ruth (Reynolds) Markey, she spent most of her life there and also lived in The Villages, Florida, for 15 years before returning home.
Gayle enjoyed creating beautiful oil and watercolor paintings, going on late-night snow adventures with her children, visiting Wigwam Beach, golfing, and playing mahjong with her group in The Villages. She graduated from Holy Family High School and earned her Registered Nurse license at St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing at the White Home in 1956. She worked for many years as a Registered Nurse at St. Luke's Hospital and SSTAR Addiction Treatment Center. She also provided nursing services at Cathedral Camp. Gayle was involved with New Life South Coast and, while in Florida, was a member of the Red Hat Society.

Her survivors include her children, Karen, Raymond, Michael, Peter, Christopher and his wife Angela, and Leann; her grandchildren, Kayla, Brianna, Janelle, Rebecca, Eric, Nicole, Matthew, Crystal, Courtney, Audrey, Kennedy, and Cora; her great-grandchildren, Alexander, Sophia, Christian, Logan, Amiah, Cali, Golden, Owen, Oliver, Aaron, Aiden, Douglas and Cypress. Her survivors also include her siblings, Paul Markey and his wife, Louise; Lucretia Murphy and her husband, Philip; and Elaine Desmond.

She was preceded in death by her son, Paul, Christopher's twin brother; her brother, William Markey; and her sister, Margaret Strout.

Her memorial visitation will be held on Friday, February 13, 2026 from 4-8 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford.