Gaye Nell Mitcham, also known as Mama Gaye and Elle, of Concord, California passed away August 13, 2022 with her family by her side.  She was 80 years old.

She leaves behind four sons and daughters-in-law (Jerry Whittom and Angela Hepe of Sunnyvale, California; Daniel and Elizabeth Whittom of Fremont, California; Marty Whittom and Patricia Preston of Fairfield, California; and Joel and Jolene Whittom of Roseville, California) and four grandchildren (Michelle, Tyler, Nathan, and Xander), all of whom she loved very much. She is also survived by her siblings Kaye Salisbury and Monte Mitcham, her beloved cat Sunshine, and many others who loved her.

Gaye was born to Jack Milton Mitcham and Nellie Opal (Struble) Mitcham on March 13, 1942 in San Antonio, Texas. She moved to San Francisco at age five and lived in Northern California the rest of her life. She had early memories of living in the Haight-Ashbury district. While in school, she met Jerry Lavon Whittom, who became her husband and the father of her children. Gaye graduated with an AA in 1979 from Skyline College and a BA in 1981 from San Francisco State University, after majoring in journalism and minoring in speech performance. She held a Life & Disability Insurance Agent License and worked in several roles in the insurance industry.  Her favorite place to work was in the Transamerica Building.

Throughout her life, Gaye enjoyed reading books, cultivating and tending her garden, live music and theatre, singing in a choir, royalty, exchanging hand-written letters with life-long friends, animals, baking, travel, the San Francisco Giants, volunteering as a theatre usher, serving as an officer of the Ulloa PTA, and spending time with her loved ones, especially her grandkids.

Gaye had a sassy spirit (stubborn) and strength of a warrior, with twinkling eyes, a mischievous laugh, and a great sense of humor. She learned judo as a young, single mother and would come home and practice new moves with her four boys on the front lawn. Gaye was a history buff and had a special affinity for the Spanish Missions. She visited every Mission in California. One other fun fact about Gaye was how much she loved to eat! She had a tiny frame but could eat more than her sons and some of her favorite foods were Mexican food, Nation's hamburgers, Blenheim apricots and Valencia oranges. She will be greatly missed.

A Celebration of Gaye's Life and Memorial will be held on September 7, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at Vaca Hills Chapel Funeral Home, 524 Elmira Road, Vacaville, California.