Gayle Lee Pearson

Gayle Lee Pearson, 88, of Gilbertsville, formerly of Reidland, passed away at 1 a.m. Sunday, July 19, 2026, at his lakeside home. Born Oct. 2, 1937, in Nicholasville, Ky., Gayle was the son of the late Preston Lee Pearson and Louise Reynolds Pearson. Gayle’s family moved to Paducah in the 1950s during the construction of the atomic plant. His father, Preston, was a carpenter and built housing for the workers coming to Paducah. Gayle attended Augusta Tilghman High School where he met his future wife, Ann. They were both graduates of the 1955 class of Augusta Tilghman, the last class to graduate from Augusta Tilghman. They were married Oct. 21, 1956, in Corinth, Miss. Mr. Pearson was a former firefighter for the City of Paducah in the 1960s and was employed as a delivery driver for Colonial Baking Co. for several years. He then went to work for the B.F. Goodrich Chemical Co. in Calvert City, where he worked for more than 31 years until his retirement. Gayle and Ann and their daughters moved from Paducah to Reidland in the late 1960s. Mr. Pearson served as a coach for his daughter, Michelle, and the Petland softball team. In 1977, Gayle and Ann were instrumental in the procurement of land for the Reidland Khoury League ballpark on Said Road from the late Tom McKinney of Marion. Gayle was of the Christian faith. Survivors include his wife, Virginia Ann (Peck) Pearson; his daughters, Linda Cocke and husband John of Gilbertsville, and Dawn Michelle Pearson of Ledbetter; his brother, Foster Lynn Pearson (Vickie) of Reidland; and brothers-in-law, James Peck (June) and Kenneth Peck (Janice), all of Paducah. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Anne Lambard. Honoring his request, a private family graveside service will be held at Maplelawn Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy make take the form of contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105; or Mercy Health Hospice with Compassus, 225 Medical Center Drive, Suite 203, Paducah KY 42003. Online condolences may be left at www.lindseyfuneral.com Lindsey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.