Oct. 25, 1949 – Feb. 16,2010

Anita "Gayle" Sherwood, 60, passed away at her home in Lake Havasu City Tuesday evening after a long battle with brain cancer. She was born Oct. 25, 1949, in Rome, Ga., to David and Winnie Watkins. At an early age, Gayle's parents moved their family to Southern California. Gayle grew up in Huntington Park. Gayle attended Huntington Park High School, where she graduated in 1967. After high school, she worked at the law firm of Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher. Gayle met Jim in South Gate, Calif., in 1978, and they were married June 9, 1979, in Huntington Park, Calif. They lived in Downey, Calif., with their son and two daughters until 1994, when they relocated to Lake Havasu City. Gayle loved to travel, liked to shop, loved the mountains, being around the water and camping.

During her long illness, her daughter Laura moved back from Phoenix to help as Gayle’s caregiver. With the help of the Hospice of Havasu and Laura, Gayle was well cared for.

Gayle is survived by her husband of 30 years, James E. Sherwood II; son, Tim Wymer and his wife Jackie, of Powder Springs, Ga.; daughters, Kimberly Whipple and her husband Jeff, of Powder Springs, Ga., and Laura Sherwood, of Phoenix; mother, Chip Watkins, of California; sisters, Debbie and Warren Holt, of California, and Michelle and Gary Alvarez, of Arizona; brothers, Larry Watkins and Michael Watkins, of California; seven grandchildren, four nephews and six nieces. She was preceded in death by her father, David Watkins; and her sister, Brenda Dannaman.

Services will be held at Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hospice of Havasu, P.O. Box 597, Lake Havasu City, AZ. 86405.

Thoughts and condolences may be submitted to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory.