GREENWOOD
Beth Ann Gaylo, 56, of Greenwood, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, April 26, 2017.
She was born in Indianapolis on May 27, 1960. Her parents were Maurice W. Smock and Arlene P. (Hair) Smock, with both of whom she is reunited in the next life. She has also joined her beloved grandmother, Fern Hair, and many aunts, uncles, other relatives and dear friends.
While Beth occasionally attended Our Lady of the Greenwood Catholic Church, her heart was still with St. John United Church of Christ in Indianapolis, in which generations of her family had worshiped. She had a deep, personal relationship with the Lord and took the dictates of Matthew 25 deeply to heart.
For many years, she had been a member of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of the United Ways of Central Indiana and Johnson County. She was also a member of the Meridian Society of the United Way of Central Indiana. She also endowed an award given each year to a leading biology student at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Beth was a person of many interests, one who loved the arts. In her youth she was in many plays presented at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Later, she did her best to support the Indiana Repertory Theatre, being a long-time member of the Repertory Society and a former member of the Repertory Society Board. She loved traveling to see great works of art throughout the world. She was proud she had completed her own personal “Grand Slam” in having visited the British Museum, the Louvre, the Vatican Museums and the Metropolitan Art Museum. She had also visited the Smithsonian, the Uffizi, the Musée d’Orsay, the Hermitage, the Rijksmuseum, MOMA and many others. Beth enjoyed reading a great deal and would often “binge-read” on her Kindles, swapping one out for another when the battery got low.
Mostly, however, Beth was a person who loved her family and friends. She loved sitting on the back deck at her parents or her own house and listen to the Indianapolis 500 while cooking out, or going to the pool (or beach) with friends. She loved sitting around with family and friends and sharing stories. She could always bring a smile to one’s face.
Beth had a love for animals. She is survived by Scotty, “the rescue dog who rescued us.” She loved to help various animal support groups, such as Northern Lights Sled Dog Rescue (in Greenwood) and various humane societies. She was most closely connected with the Southside Animal Shelter (1614 W. Edgewood, Indianapolis, IN 46217) and the Humane Society of Johnson County (3827 N. Graham Road, Franklin, IN 46131), to which Beth would encourage gifts in lieu of flowers.
Beth worked as a legal administrative assistant in several law firms in Indianapolis, most notably at (the former) Bakers & Daniels. She then worked at Eli Lilly and Company as an administrative assistant in the legal and project management areas. She left that position to take on what she called the much tougher job of running a household.
Beth is survived by her husband of 20 years, Paul J. Gaylo. She is also survived by her brothers, David Brian Smock and his wife Julie, of Batavia, Ohio, and Christopher Maurice Smock and his wife Christina, of Quitman, Mississippi. She is also survived by 15 nieces and nephews, and a growing number of great-nieces and great-nephews.
Services will be held at Wilson St. Pierre Funeral Home, Greenwood Chapel, 481 W. Main St. in Greenwood (corner of U.S. 31 and Main Street, http://www.wilsonstpierre.com/). There will be a visitation from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday. There will then be a Celebration of Life service at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Wilson St. Pierre.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to any of the animal support groups mentioned above or to a charity of your own choosing.
