Obituary

Dana Gayle “Meemaw” Trowbridge was born on March 28, 1940 to D.H. & Muriel Baker in Lorenzo, Texas. She passed away on Friday, April 14, 2023.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Sunday, April 16, 2023 at Carr’s Chapel followed by a Celebration of Life at 11:00 A.M. Sunday at the First Baptist Church in Petersburg with Ellis Dean officiating. Arrangements are under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Plainview.

A talented piano player, Gayle began learning the piano from her Dad at age 4. By the age of 10-12, she was playing the piano at Becton Baptist Church.

While riding around town with her cousin, Darlene Baker one night, Gayle met Steve Trowbridge. They married on February 18, 1958 and moved to their farm in Floyd County northeast of Petersburg. Gayle helped Steve farm land that has been in the Trowbridge family since 1905. She was no stranger to a tractor or module builder and spent many years carrying a huge spread of food to the field during cotton harvest.

Later, Gayle worked in town at the Flower Box, Porter Drug and later retired from Wylie Mfg. She also ran cotton surveys for the U.S.D.A.

Gayle was an extremely talented musician even though she couldn’t read music. From the time that she was a teenager up until last year, Gayle used her incredible talent in church for more than 70 years. Gayle along with Buzz & Myrt Gregory, Jerri Willis and Tony Gregory sang to many audiences in the area. She accompanied Jimmy Fullingim in his ministry. She was also a member of the “Double Nickel” band and they performed at jamborees all across the South Plains.

Meemaw as she later became known to everyone around her, loved serving others. She has cooked and served countless meals to many in the community. Several years ago, she began making blankets for friends and family. We estimated that she probably made over 300 blankets! Meemaw loved her grandkids. As they entered High School, she cooked lunch for them every day even though she worked full time. She would get up at 5 a.m. to get the meals ready. Crispy Chicken Wednesday was the favorite and it wasn’t uncommon for Meemaw to invite some of the guys from Wylie’s to stop in to eat.

Gayle was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Bruce, Joe Paul and Robby and their oldest daughter, Kelli, in 2009.

She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Steve Trowbridge of Petersburg, two daughters, Kim Vaughn & husband David of Petersburg and Kipy Trowbridge & Mark Newell of Canyon; adopted daughters, Donna Isbell & husband Jerry of Lubbock and Shirley Smith & husband Jack of Stephenville; seven grandchildren, Trace Vaughn & wife Ashley of Shallowater, Travis Vaughn & wife Lisa of Petersburg, Shelby Vaughn of Vernon, Stephen Alford of Des Moines, Iowa, Taryn LaGrave & husband Josh of Petersburg, Sam Alford of Petersburg and Monique Brotherton & husband Jeb of Amarillo; twelve great grandchildren Kooper Vaughn of Lubbock, Truitt Vaughn and Storey Belle Vaughn of Shallowater, Ky Vaughn, Kenlee Vaughn and Kale Vaughn of Petersburg, Cylar Hogue of Vernon, Ainsley Alford of Petersburg, and Lane, Daci, Sally and Lindley Brotherton of Amarillo.