She was born on October 21, 1937, in Temple, Texas, to Robert Guyton and Ruth (Turner) Guyton. She spent most of her childhood in Bartlett, Texas, and graduated as valedictorian from Bartlett High School in 1956. She attended the University of Texas at Austin and was part of the Plan II Honors Program in the College of Liberal Arts. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from UT in June of 1960 and remained a proud Longhorn her entire life.

After graduation, she worked in retail merchandising as a buyer for various high-end department stores in downtown San Antonio and Dallas, including Titche’s and Joske’s. She often loved telling stories to family and friends about her frequent travels to New York during her career and had fond memories of seeing Broadway shows starring legends like Angela Lansbury and Julie Andrews during those visits.

On Aug. 17, 1969, she married the love of her life, Dr. Crawford James Daniel, and moved to Taylor, where she lived for the rest of her days.

She quickly became a fixture in the Taylor community and volunteered with various faith-based, civic, and charitable organizations over the years, including First United Methodist Church, the HOSTS early literacy program at Taylor ISD, and the Junior Woman’s Study Club. She served as president of the Junior Woman’s Study Club in 1978-79, 1990-91, and 2006-09, and she was very proud to be one of the most tenured members of that organization up until the time of her death.

She is preceded in death by her mother and stepfather, Ruth (Turner) Swenson and Rudy Swenson, and her beloved husband of 47 years, Dr. Crawford James Daniel.

She is survived by her daughter, Dana Daniel Wilkes, and husband Bo of Austin; her son, David Scott Daniel, and wife Alli of San Antonio; and her stepdaughter, Debbie Daniel Svadlenak, and husband Steve of Austin. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Drake and Duncan Wilkes of Austin; Deuce and Andra Daniel of San Antonio; Nathan Svadlenak of Goleta, California; Jeff Svadlenak and his wife Leah of Cedar Park. In addition, she is survived by two great-grandchildren, Michael and Ruth Svadlenak of Cedar Park.

Visitation was held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Providence Funeral Home. A celebration of life service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at First United Methodist Church in Taylor. Burial will follow at Taylor City Cemetery.

Memorials to honor Gayle may be made to First United Methodist Church in Taylor or the charity of your choice.