Sally Ann Gokey
Sally Ann Gokey, of Venice, aged 87, passed away Tuesday, September 19, 2023.
Sally was born October 10, 1935, to Louis and Jennifer Schmidt in Detroit, Michigan. After graduating from Hazel Park High School in 1953, she married Gilbert Henry Gokey in November 1959. Gilbert died in 1972. They had four children.
Sally married John Walters and added two kids to the family: Jeffrey and Julie. They moved to Sydney, Australia in 1975 and then to Solihull, England. In 1983, Sally moved to Florida, where she lived for 40 years.
Sally worked in food service for 10 years in the Sarasota County school system. She was a gifted artist; her oil paintings grace the walls of family and friends. One of her pieces titled; “Poppies” was selected for the Royal Academy in London. Sally was a talented seamstress and an avid quilter. Her primary passion in life was her family; she was the embodiment of class and beauty. She touched the lives of everyone she met.
Sally is survived by her three sons, John Gokey of Venice, Tom Gokey of Venice, Kenneth Gokey of The Bahamas, and a daughter, Jill Pannill of Venice, along with their spouses, Jill Gokey (John), Joy Gokey (Kenneth) and Phillip Pannill.
She had 9 grandchildren: Margeurite, Gretchen, Anna, Johnny, Colin, Shane, Lilly, Page, and Katherine and 3 great-grandchildren: Liam, Seth, and Paul. Sally is survived by many nieces and nephews. Her Catholic faith was an integral part of her life.
A Funeral Mass for Sally will be held at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice on Tuesday, September 26, at 10:00 a.m.
