Sally Ann Walpole

June 18, 1969 - October 14, 2020

Sally Ann Walpole (née Gaskin), 51, of Memphis, Tennessee died Wednesday, October 14, 2020 in her home surrounded by the love of her husband, Kenneth Walpole. When you read this stifle not your tears for the life of such a phenomenal woman, but let them flow freely so that they may carry the love you have for her from this world to the next. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Sally was the beloved daughter of the late Leonard Gaskin. She graduated from Kirby High School in 1986. She would later go back to school to earn her Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from Liberty University in 2011. Sally was a phenomenal woman, wife, and mother. She was a force of joy and positivity, and she radiated love. She was fierce, strong, and powerful, and she brightened many a room with her smile and wit. Sally married the love of her life, Kenneth Walpole in December of 2012. Together they lived a life filled with love, humor, joy, and laughter. Ken and Sally enjoyed several years in the beautiful Bay Area of California before relocating to be closer to family in Memphis, Tennessee in 2017. Sally followed what she dubbed the “Just Be Philosophy” she learned from Ken, providing them nearly a decade of a life filled with peace, love, and adventure. Sally was passionate about education, particularly in understanding the different ways humans process and comprehend knowledge. She loved understanding how the human mind worked, and how to help people learn what they needed and/or wanted to. Throughout her life she was a teacher to many, whether through friendship or trade. She was a certified Montessori head teacher specializing in ages 3-6, spent time as Pre-K teacher at a private school in Okinawa, and homeschooled both of her children through parts of middle and high school. Sally carried this love of teaching into some of her later professions as well, as a patient advocate and Intake Supervisor at DHR (acquired by MedData) in San Francsisco, CA and eventually as a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer at McGriff Insurance Services in Memphis. Sally raised two children, the lights of her life, Rebecka and Jeremy, with her first husband John Wilson. These years brought adventure and humor in the unique ways only being a mother of two and a military wife can. The family lived all over the globe including Biloxi, Mississippi; Mildenhall RAFB, England; Warner Robins, Georgia; Kadena AFB and Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan; Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, back to Warner Robins, and more. Sally manifested her love and joy into a myriad of artistic endeavors that she loved to share, whether she was creating incredibly beautiful, detailed cards by hand, or baking scrumptious cupcakes, or creating stunning quilted pieces, or drawing and painting beautiful pieces that hang in the homes (or on the bodies) of those she loved. Sally is preceded in death by her loving father, Leonard Gaskin. She is survived by the love of her life, her husband Kenneth Walpole, her beloved children Rebecka Wilson (Rowen Cannon-Monogue) and Jeremy Wilson (Mary Ann), her granddaughters Alex Tatton and Sage Monogue, her stepmother Joan Gaskin, her sister Rachel Swaner, and her nephews and their families. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held Saturday, October 31st at 4pm, hosted at her brother-in-law's. Sally made it very clear that this is to be a bright, colorful party to celebrate the beautiful life she created. Please honor her request that no one wears black. If you like, take inspiration from Sally’s favorite colors: purple, silver, and teal.