Gayle Beckway Smith

Gayle Beckway Smith, 85 of Carmel, Indiana peacefully passed to be with the Lord on February 8, 2025. 

Gayle was born on September 28, 1939, in Chicago, Illinois. Her mother, Alice Madsen Beckway migrated to the United States from Denmark and Gayle’s father, William Gerald Beckway migrated from Canada. Her parents proudly welcomed their baby girl recognizing her as the first generation of their family, born in the United States. Gayle spent her entire childhood and most of her adult life in the Chicago area.

After a local move, Gayle transferred from Taft High school and graduated from Niles East High School in 1957. She attended the University of Iowa until the flu pandemic of 1957 caused her to transfer closer to home enrolling at Illinois Wesleyan University where she joined Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. Her desire to teach and the requirements to obtain her Teaching Certificate resulted in her completing her degree at the University of Illinois.

She began her career at Arlington High School (IL) where she taught Speech and English and coached the speech team. Gayle had a love for the theatre and was also the theatre director, building stage sets for the high school’s many productions. While teaching at Arlington High School she met the love of her life Peter Buchan Smith. The courtship began and they enjoyed square dancing on ice. They married August 15, 1964, celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this past August.

After dedicating many years of her life to raising her two children Gayle returned to teaching working in a unique homebound program helping students who are unable to attend high school due to medical or other circumstances. Gayle worked with many pregnant teens bringing high school to them to ensure that they were able to earn their high school diploma. She took on many roles with this position – educator, counselor, social worker and friend. 

Gayle’s other passion was her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta. She was extremely involved with the Chicago Northwest Suburban Alumnae Chapter of AGD. She held many leadership positions, and her love was working on their annual fundraiser for Kirk Center a school dedicated to students with multiple disabilities. Alpha Gamma Delta’s motto “Inspire the woman. Impact the world.” Fueled her tireless commitment to lifelong learning.

After retirement and a desire to be closer to her children, Gayle decided the leave the only home, she had ever known in the Chicago area and move to Indiana. She loved being closer to her grandchildren. Her years in Indiana were filled with volunteering at Conner Prairie and Clowes Hall. Gayle enjoyed playing bridge, mahjong, knitting and crafts. She treasured the beach collecting shells and making shell animals with her grandchildren. Gayle loved her family unconditionally celebrating all the special moments and milestones of her children and grandchildren’s lives. Those memories will be treasured and cherished forever.

Gayle is preceded in death by parents William Gerald Beckway and Alice Madsen Beckway and brother Gerald W. Beckway. She is survived by her loving husband Peter Buchan Smith and her children Kristi Smith Petruzzi (David Petruzzi) and William Buchan Smith (Amber Ripp Smith) and six grandchildren (Michael, Nick, Grayce, John, Alex and Brandon) and brother Brent Beckway and sister-in-law Denise Beckway (Gerald W. Beckway).

Services will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 22, 2025, at Flanner Buchanan - Carmel, 325 East Carmel Drive.  Visitation will be from 12 noon until the time of services.  Memorial contributions may be directed to The Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation, The Isaiah 117 House or to The Women's Care Center.