Gaye Lynn Carrillo

PAYSON, Ariz. — Gaye Lynn Carrillo, 65, of rural Payson, Arizona, passed peacefully away at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, in Payson, Arizona, while holding her mother’s hand. 

Gaye was born to Margaret Agnes “Peggy” (LeSage) and Milburn Leroy “Ike” Briggs on July 5, 1957, in Tucson, Arizona, where she resided until her teenage years before moving to Kansas. She ultimately found her long-term home in Parsons. Gaye attended Labette County High School, graduating in 1975, and married Peter Carrillo in July 1975. They later divorced.

Gaye continued her education at Labette Community College, graduating from the School of Nursing with honors. She was a registered nurse for nearly 40 years.

Gaye is survived by her mother, Margaret “Peggy” Cumpton of the home; her stepmother, Nancy Briggs of Parsons; her sons, Jason Carrillo (Amy) and their children, Alexander, Elsa, Isaac and Stella, all of Lawrence, and Wesley Carrillo (Kayla) and their children, Max and Harper; her sister, Terri Briggs of Scottsdale, Arizona; her brothers, Billy Cumpton of Phoenix and Chris Cumpton (Casey) of Payson, Arizona; her nephews, Nick Briggs and David Gonzales; her nieces, Courtney Towery (Mark) and Opal Ewbank (Briggs). 

She was preceded in death by her dad, M.L. “Ike” Briggs; her second husband, Steve Caldwell; her brother, Eric “Rick” Briggs; and her nephew, Joey Gonzales.

Gaye was a lover of many things. Animals were always present in her life. From a pet raccoon as a teenager to countless dogs and cats, some purchased. Most were rescued from either the side of the road, a wood pile or a pack of coyotes or even trapped in pet carriers with her mother for a feral neutering program. The list of her pets is endless, and she loved each and every one dearly. 

Her piles of CDs and stacks of vinyl records show an eclectic musical taste with the sounds of the classic rock she grew up with, Rod Stewart, Dwight Yoakam, Garth Brooks and Train getting a number of spins at various hours of the day or night, but almost always at a high volume. She attended numerous concerts over her life and could be found dancing if there was a live band at a party, a party of which she was likely the life.

She enjoyed being outdoors, especially fishing, rarely missing an opportunity to wet a line. It is difficult to miss when you keep the tackle and rods in the trunk of your car. She loved taking photographs, always with a camera in hand and with a new lens seemingly in her sights in her younger years. One would be remiss not to mention her love of NASCAR and the Kansas City Chiefs, constants on the television with channels flipped back and forth on Sunday afternoons.

She loved her many, many friends, who’ve spanned the decades, the careers, the moves, the ups and downs and the curveballs life throws at us all. She missed many of them when she moved to Arizona to be with her mother in 2020, and she was missed by many of them as well. But in her final years on Earth, she was able to spend them with her mom, sister and brothers, folks she loved dearly and finally got the opportunity to make up for the lost time that distance had taken for years. She enjoyed every minute of it as she did her life.

An informal memorial service will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at the Wall Family Center, 2605 Main St., Parsons, Kansas.