With deep love and reflection, we announce the passing of Melanie Kaye Finklea Gayle, who passed away peacefully on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2026, at the age of 70.
Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Melanie lived a life marked by strength, independence, and perseverance. She loved her family deeply, even though life’s circumstances and challenges meant she was not always able to spend as much time with them as she may have wanted. Her love was real, even when expressed quietly or from a distance.
Melanie was a woman who walked her own path. She was resilient, strong-willed, and shaped by the experiences of her life. As a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, her legacy continues through the generations that follow her. Those who knew her best understood her complexity and the ways she cared in her own time and way.
She is survived by her children Charles “Skip” Lorch (Christi), Mary “Katie” Hornbuckle, Russell Lorch (Liz), and Brittney Gayle; her brother Steve Finklea; nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Melanie was preceded in death by her mother Loretta Brazil, her father Asa Finklea, her brother Kent Finklea, and her son-in-law Hank Hornbuckle.
Melanie’s life, with all its chapters, remains an important part of her family’s story. She will be remembered for her strength, her individuality, and the legacy she leaves behind.
