Thelma Gaynell (Rudisill) Brown, of Wareham, formerly of Newton died Sunday, Aug. 30, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston at the age of 81 following heart complications. She was the loving wife of Walter A. Brown and were married for 60 plus incredible happy years.

Gayl, as she was affectionately known, was the daughter of the late Floyd and Yuba Rudisill, both of Hagerstown, Maryland.

She earned her diploma in nursing at Washington County Hospital in Hagerstown in 1955. In 1955, she married her husband Walter while he was stationed at Ft. Ritchie, Maryland at the end of the Korean War. They later moved to Boston where she worked in the ER at Mass. General Hospital and the ER at Beth Israel Medical Center.

Later, Walter and Gayl moved to White Plains, New York when Walter accepted a job with IBM. In New York, she continued work in emergency nursing in Mahopac, New York until they moved back to Boston where she continued nursing in Waltham Nursing Home on South St. She later became the medical director for Breaburn Nursing Home in Newton.

Walter and Gayl retired to Swift’s Beach in 2003 where Walter could sail his 36’ catamaran and Gayl could do the antiquing, piano playing, cooking and gardening she loved. She was the master of unique wisecracks which exemplified her mischievous nature.

Gayl was devoted to her husband Walter, daughter Lissa Brown, grandson Michael Borr and great grandson Jordan Borr. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews from the York, PA area where her sister lives.

Her funeral service will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway at noon. Relatives and friends are invited to visit from 10 a.m. to noon prior to the service. Interment will be private.

Donations in her memory may be made to Boys & Girls Club of Greater New Bedford – Wareham Unit, 166 Jenney St., New Bedford, MA 02740. For directions and on-line guestbook visit: www.ccgfuneralhome.com