Patricia Petty

Patricia Gayle Petty

Gayle was born on November 19, 1940, in Amarillo, Texas. After enduring more than 9 years on kidney dialysis, she died peacefully at home on Thursday, July 3, 2025, surrounded by family.

Growing up on a farm outside of Vega, Texas, she graduated from Vega High School in 1958. After high school, Gayle pursued nursing and graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1962. After college, she was married to Ralph Petty for 18 years and remained close to his family throughout her life.

Beginning her career as a medical surgical nurse and, later a school nurse, Gayle went on to earn a Master of Science in Nursing in 1982 from the University of New Mexico. She served as Director of Nursing at Vista Sandia in Albuquerque but then became employed at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Albuquerque as a Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist for many years until her retirement. At the VA she did research on Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome in veterans. Gayle was an advocate for nursing education and helped establish the Carlson/Petty Nursing Endowment for Innovative Nursing Education at the College of Nursing at the University of New Mexico.

A life-long artist, Gayle owned an egg-carving business, through which she expressed her creative side. Before her long illness, her eggs were shown in Amapola Gallery in Old Town. She loved to travel when she still could, loved animals (especially dogs), loved her book club and bridge groups. The opportunity to know all the friends she met through these activities was one of her greatest pleasures.

Gayle was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Virginia Crouch of Vega, and by the love of her life, Roman "Butch" Hubbell of Albuquerque. She is survived by her sister Sharon "Cherri" Berry of Albuquerque; her niece Sharolyn (Patrick) Eitenbichler of Sandia Park; her grand-niece Lindsay Eitenbichler of Denver; and grand-nephew Samuel Eitenbichler of New York City.

At Gayle's request, there will be no public services. She asked that any donations of remembrance go to the Animal Humane Society of New Mexico or any animal rescue group, in remembrance of the furry friends who brought her so much comfort and joy. Please visit our online guest book for Gayle at www.FrenchFunerals.com.