Gayle Farmer Oberst, former Panama City Beach mayor, passes away at 81
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) – Former Panama City Beach Mayor Gayle Farmer Oberst has passed away at 81 years old on Saturday.
Oberst was born Gayle Farmer in Columbus, Georgia and grew up in South Alabama.
She received an MBA from what was then Troy State University.
She worked and taught at Troy, Central Texas College, Enterprise State College, and Gulf
Coast Community College.
She retired from Troy’s Dothan campus after serving as vice president of finance and administration, executive assistant to the president and as an assistant professor in business.
Her political career began when she moved to Panama City Beach.
Oberst served six years as a city council member, then 10 years as Panama City Beach mayor.
She’ll probably best be known for the series of nature trails and greenways that wind from one end of the beach to the other. They were named “Gayles’ trails” in her honor.
A celebration of life will take place at Harpoon Harry’s on May 21 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
