Gayle Edith (nee Bardoner) Lehman, 83, of Avon Lake, Ohio, passed away peacefully Tuesday July 2, 2026. Born on March 31, 1943, in Lorain, Ohio, to Richard Wm. and Ethel June (Marsac) Bardoner, Gayle was a woman of deep devotion, varied talents, and an endless capacity for love.

As a child, Gayle developed a profound love for the outdoors, spending countless hours exploring and fishing alongside her beloved Boston Terrier. This appreciation for nature blossomed into a lifelong passion for gardening, and her home eventually was filled with the joyful, snorting companionship of another Boston Terrier.

In the 1960s, while working at Lorain Products, she met Merle Lehman. The two were married on February 21, 1965, building a life together until Merle’s passing in 2016. In 1973, they moved to Avon Lake, settling into the house that Gayle would proudly call home for the rest of her life.

Gayle was a true maker. Her hands were rarely still, whether she was quilting, crafting stained glass, working with ceramics, or engaging in all kinds of needlework. But perhaps her most celebrated creations came from her kitchen. She delighted in cooking for a crowd, and her children universally attest to her remarkable culinary skills. Her legendary Chicken "Popperkosh"—spelled with love and a healthy dose of phonetic enthusiasm—will forever remain a cherished family favorite. Even in her later years, her generous spirit never waned, as she said, "I still have a lot of love to give."

She bravely carried on the memory and heart of her father by tirelessly rooting for the Cleveland Browns and Indians/Guardians. The frequent letdowns provided by these teams offered a unique, enduring connection to her Dad, allowing them to share a commiserative sports misery that continues—perhaps in perpetuity—for those of us who are similarly afflicted.

When she wasn't feeding her family or weathering another Browns season, Gayle enjoyed immersing herself in suspenseful novels, with a particular fondness for James Patterson. In recent years, she also found great comfort and community as a regular online congregant of M1 Church in Mansfield, Ohio, where her oldest son is the pastor.

Gayle is survived by her three children: Mark (Sarah) Lehman, Cindy (James) Deal, and Matthew Lehman. Her legacy of love continues through her three grandchildren, Conner "Silly Goose" Lehman (Katlyn), Katie Newsome (Ridge), and Amber Conley, as well as her four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Merle, and her younger sister, Judy Bardoner.

In lieu of flowers, please send flowers. To someone you love. Gayle loved flowers.

Graveside Services will be held Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at Ridge Hill Memorial Park, 44805 N. Ridge Rd., Amherst.

Funeral Arrangements entrusted to Andras Crematory & Funeral Home, Lorain.