Eleanor Gayle Hardaway

Gayle was born to Oscar Alexander Brown and Eleanor Balfour Brown on July 24, 1940, in Amarillo, Texas, and grew up on her family’s farm outside Channing, Texas. It was there, in the Texas Panhandle, that she learned many of the qualities that would define her life: hard work, hospitality, curiosity, independence, and, above all, the importance of family.

She met the love of her life, Royce, while they were both students at Channing High School. They went on to attend West Texas State College in Canyon, Texas, where Gayle earned a degree in Home Economics.

Gayle and Royce were married on September 5, 1959, in Channing. They began their married life in Canyon, Texas, and then moved to Claude, Texas, and welcomed their son, Brent. They then moved to Dumas, Texas, where daughter Kim was born. After graduating, Gayle put her Home Economics degree to work teaching in the Dumas school system before turning her focus to raising her young family. In 1965, the family moved to Dallas, beginning a new chapter that would ultimately lead to a rich and remarkable life of work, travel, friendship, and family.

In 1977, Gayle began her career in Christian Education at Highland Park United Methodist Church. Her passion for teaching and developing others eventually led her to become a nationally renowned educator in lay leadership development. This role was not simply her profession; it was one of the ways she connected with and cared for people.

One of the great joys Gayle and Royce shared throughout their marriage was traveling. They loved seeing the world, meeting people, experiencing different cultures, and sharing those experiences with others. Eventually, their love of travel became a second career as they joined together in their group tour business, Royce Hardaway Tours. Gayle’s specialty was leading groups to Paris and London. She approached travel with the same enthusiasm and warmth she brought to everything else in life. On one memorable adventure, she even introduced a group of Parisians to the Southern delicacy of eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day, a little bit of Texas hospitality in the heart of France. She enjoyed longboat trips on the canals of England and Scotland. She went on seven canal boat trips between 1988 and 2025.

In 2001, Gayle and Royce retired to Llano, Texas, where they built a beautiful country home. There, they enjoyed growing flowers, fruit, and vegetables and spending time in the kitchen. Cooking was one of her greatest loves, and she was known far and wide as an exceptional cook and a wonderful hostess. Her kitchen was a place where family and friends felt welcomed and loved.

Gayle and Royce moved to Frisco in 2016, where they were able to participate in the joy of being with grandchildren and, eventually, great-grandchildren. Family was always at the center of Gayle’s life, and nothing brought her more happiness than having the people she loved gathered around her.

Gayle’s interests were many and reflected her wonderfully curious and joyful spirit. She loved her family, puzzles, cooking, traveling, music, and especially singing with her family. She had a wonderful ability to find joy in both the grand adventures of life and its simplest moments.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Eleanor Brown.

Gayle is survived by her devoted husband of 67 years, Royce Gerald Hardaway; her son, Royce Brent Hardaway, and his wife, Susan, of Austin, Texas; her daughter, Kimberly Gay Hardaway Shorman, and her husband, Mark, of The Colony; her grandchildren, William Henry Hardaway (Natalie), Shelby Hardaway Ussery (Alex), Kristin Shorman Tholkappian (Edisan), Nathaniel Mark Shorman (Ally), Colton Patrick Shorman (Maddie), and Dawson Alexander Shorman (Libby); her great-grandchildren, Maeve, Hayes, Lilly, Nora, Eleanor, and Frederick; her brother, Joe Bill Brown, and his wife, Ginger, of Lubbock, Texas; and her sister, Melody Ann Davis, and her husband, Frank, of Channing, Texas. She also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins whom she loved dearly.

She will be missed more than words can say. But she leaves behind something even more lasting than memories: a family that loves one another, in large part because she taught us how. We see God’s love through her. We will carry her with us. And we will love her always.

Services will be held at Grace Avenue United Methodist Church in Frisco on Monday, September 21, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace Avenue United Methodist Church.