Gayle Hewett Pinkham

WINDSOR – Gayle Hewett Pinkham, 62, passed away at home surrounded by family on July 9, 2021 after a long courageous battle with cancer. Daughter of Maynard and Gladys Hewett, she was born on March 18, 1959, and grew up in Weeks Mills.

Gayle attended Erskine Academy and graduated in 1977. During her four years of high school, she was very active in sports – including field hockey, cheering, and softball – and she excelled in academics and was Salutatorian of her class. She met many of her lifelong friends at Erskine, but most importantly she met her soulmate, Cameron Pinkham.

After high school Gayle attended The University of Maine at Machias and graduated in 1979 with her associate degree. She would later return to school to complete her bachelor’s degree in accounting. Cameron attended Machias with her and after graduating they decided to spend the rest of their lives together and they married later that year on Sept. 8, 1979. Soon after marrying, they moved to Wyoming for a couple years before returning to Windsor to build a house and start a family.

Gayle and Cameron welcomed their first daughter, Melanie, in 1988 and then their second daughter, Michele, in 1991. Gayle was a dedicated mother who loved staying home to raise her daughters. She did it all; extra curriculars, chaperoning field trips, helping with homework, Girl Scout Troop Leader, instilling values, and preparing them for the “real world”. She was an exceptional mom.

As her children grew up, she went back to work, part time at first, then eventually full time. She revisited some of her lifelong passions, such as reading, and branched out to other hobbies. She became very physically active and spent years attending fitness classes and enjoyed walking in particular. In her later years she took up knitting, creating beautiful handmade gifts for family and friends. Perhaps her favorite way to relax was to spend sunny summer days at camp in Pemaquid sitting by the water with Cameron…oftentimes even bringing their chairs right into the water to sit in the gentle waves.

Without a doubt, the absolute highlight of her life was her three grandchildren, Landon and Kamryn Ritchie, and Efstratia “Tia” Gayle Xamplas. Her happiest moments were spent playing with her grandbabies. Anything from dinosaurs, to reading, to gingerbread house building was on the cards…anything goes at Gramma’s house!

Gayle is predeceased by her father, Maynard Hewett.

She is survived by her mother, Gladys Hewett of Windsor; her husband of 42 years, Cameron Pinkham of Windsor; her two daughters Melanie Ritchie and husband Kyle of Orrington and Michele Xamplas and husband Peter of Australia; three grandchildren: Landon Ritchie, Kamryn Ritchie, and Efstratia Gayle Xamplas; four sisters: Marilyn, Gloria, Joyce, and Brenda; and many nieces and nephews.

Special thank you to a dedicated sister-in-law Pam Powell who was an unwavering support to Gayle over the past few years; and Sue Folk, her trusted nurse practitioner who guided and assisted her through her battle with cancer; and Dr Polkinghorn, Gerry, and all the nurses and staff at Alfond Cancer Center

A graveside celebration of life will be held at Oak Hill Cemetery in Windsor on Saturday, July 17 at 11 a.m.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Plummer Funeral Home, Windsor Chapel, 983 Ridge Rd., Rt. 32, Windsor. Condolences, stories and photos may be shared at http://www.plummerfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to

The Alfond Cancer Center,

c/o MaineGeneral Office of Philanthropy,

35 Medical Center Parkway,

Augusta, ME 04330

in memory of Gayle Pinkham.