Gayle Hillenbrand

Regretfully and with much sorrow we announce the passing of Gayle Patricia Hillenbrand. She died peacefully in her home on January 13, 2026 at the age of 83.

Gayle was born February 4, 1942 in La Puente California. She was the oldest of three children and is survived by her brothers, Mel and Greg.

Gayle graduated from Puente Union High School in 1959. It was in High School where she would meet the man who would become the love of her life, Phil Hillenbrand.

Gayle and Phil married in June of 1962 and soon after moved to Yucca Valley where Phil built her their first house with the help of Phil’s brother Steve. Gayle dedicated her life to raising their family as a full-time and devoted stay-at-home mother.

Their first child, Phillip Jr., was born in August of 1963, followed shortly thereafter by their son, Gary, who was born in July of 1965.

They moved to Rescue in 1967 where they had a small dairy but, within a couple of years, they moved further north to a small town just south of the Oregon border, a town called Etna. It was there that they were introduced to and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. Shortly after joining the church they moved back to Yucca Valley and continued their devotion to their faith, a faith that sustained and comforted Gayle the rest of her life.

Gayle and Phil’s first daughter Paige, was born in May of 1970 and their second daughter, Paulette was born in May of 1971. Within 2 years they moved back to Etna to raise their family in the close-nit community they had come to love.

Gayle was an incredibly talented seamstress, quilt maker, china painter, doll maker, and all-around crafter. There was nothing she could not paint, quilt, sew, or glue together with determination and a hot glue gun. And she never stopped making beautiful dolls, quilts, and other crafts for her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, primary classes, and friends, old or new.

Gayle left this earth to be reunited with her husband Phil, whom passed away in 1991 and her son Gary, who died in 1982. She is survived by her children, Phillip, Paige, and Paulette, their partners Stephen, Waid, and Dave, her grandchildren Aspyn, Brock, Carly, Alec, Drake, Regan, Spencer and Daniel, her great-grandchildren, her extended family, and her many friends. We miss her so much, yet are happy that she has been reunited with so many of her loved ones that have gone before.