Gayla L. Burden, 81, of 928 Hager Street, Saint Marys, died 4:10 A.M. Friday, December 8, 2017, at Saint Ritas Medical Center, Lima.

She was born November 2, 1936, in Botkins, Ohio, the daughter of Forest and Beatrice (Holtkamp) Bambauer.

She married Tom S. Burden on February 1, 1957, at the Wapakoneta Church of the Nazarene; he preceded her in death on January 8, 2017.

She is survived by her nine children: Marscia (Jeffrey) Fleagle of Saint Marys; Coleen (John) Levalley of Saint Marys; Christine (Mike) Tully of Kettlersville, Ohio; Tom (Sally) Burden of Celina; Michele (Mike) Shaffer of Findlay, Ohio; Mary Ann (Jeffrey) Thornsberry of Saint Marys; Catherine (Anthony) Dodson of Saint Marys; Crystal (Robert) Blank III, of Pandora, Ohio; Timothy Burden of Saint Marys.

She is survived by her 28 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; by a sister, Miriam (Clarence) Pfaadt of Anna, Ohio.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and by a  granddaughter, Moriah Dodson.

Gayla was a graduate of Anna High School. She attended Olivet Nazarene University, where she was a competitive shot-putter on her college team. She was a talented musician who played piano, organ and accordion. She used her many musical talents to lead the youth choir at the First Church of the Nazarene in Saint Marys, and later as the children's’ music ministry leader at Only Believe Ministries in Botkins.

She had taught at Headstart, and also assisted in the operation of Tom Burden Construction Company for many years. She will be remembered as a very loving mother and grandmother.

Funeral rites will be held 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at the Miller-Long and Folk Funeral Home, 314 West High Street, Saint Marys, Pastor Peter Doseck, officiant. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memory Gardens.

Friends may call from 4-8 P.M. Monday at the funeral home, where memorial gifts may be given to a trust fund for her son, Timothy Burden.

Condolences may be sent to Gayla’s family via Millerfuneralhomes.net

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