SMETHPORT — Gayle Joan Tarbox, 77, of Gifford passed away Saturday (March 15, 2025) at her home.

She was born July 10, 1947, in Bradford, the daughter of Howard and Betty (Erskin) Hartman. On Oct. 14, 1967, in Allegany, N.Y., she married Jerry Wayne Tarbox, who preceded her in death on Sept. 10, 2014.

Gayle was a graduate of Smethport Area High School, Class of 1965. She had worked at the Sears Catalog Store in the Bradford Mall for many years. She then worked at Zippo Manufacturing in Bradford for more than 20 years before her retirement.

Gayle liked working in her yard and flower beds at home, but her favorite thing was taking care of her grandchildren, Jerry, Ana and Lillie.

She is survived by her mother, Betty Hartman of Gifford; one daughter, Lisa M. (Tom Rudis) Tarbox of Currituck, N.C.; two grandsons, Matthew (Shelly Dietz) Kloss of Aiken and Andrew Tarbox Kloss of Gifford; five great-grandchildren, Jerry Tarbox, Ana Gallagher and Lillie Gallagher of Bradford and Joseph and Makenna Serman of Crisfield, Md.; three brothers, Stephen Hartman of Gifford, Earl S. (Pamela) Hartman of Warren and Kevin (Susan) Hartman of Ormsby; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her father, Howard Hartman, and husband, Jerry Tarbox, Gayle was preceded in death by a son, Wayne Evan Tarbox, on Nov. 22, 2014.

A celebration of life for Gayle will be held 3 to 5 p.m. Monday (March 24, 2025) at Hilltop Baptist Church, Gifford, with the Rev. Max Simms, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Port Allegany.

Memorials, if desired, may be made to Ronald McDonald Charities or Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Arrangements are under direction of Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes Inc. Online condolences may be made at hartle- tarboxfuneralhomes. com.