AUGUST 24 • 2023 | 61

at Hebrew Memorial Park. 
Arrangements by Hebrew 
Memorial Chapel.

c. 1949

THELMA 
WILLIS, 91, of 
West Bloomfield, 
died Aug. 16, 2023. 
She is survived 
by her nieces and 
nephews, Michael 
and Joyce Levin, 
Harold and Karen Levin, 
Steve (the late Jan) Levin, 
Jack Cohen, Rhonda and 
Jeff Schwartz, and Scott and 
Christine Newberg; many 
loving great-nieces and 
great-nephews, other family 
members and friends. 
Thelma was the dear sister 
of the late Shirley (the late 
Art) Newberg, the late Edith 
(the late Dave) Cohen, and the 
late Irene (the late Sol) Levin. 
Interment was held at the 
B’nai Israel Memorial Gardens 
in Novi. Contributions may be 
made to Yad Ezra or to Jewish 
Hospice and Chaplaincy 
Network. Arrangements by 
Dorfman Chapel.

G

ayle Shaw Camden, 77, of 
Grosse Pointe, died June 27, 
2023. 
She was born March 8, 1946, to 
Walter Carlyle Shaw Jr. and Anne Jane 
Robb. A Daughter of the American 
Revolution on both her 
father’s and mother’s sides, 
she grew up in Pittsburgh, 
Pa., and spent summers in 
Chautauqua, N.Y., from the 
tender age of 2. 
Chautauqua was an 
integral part of Gayle’s life 
together with Andrew, who 
became a stalwart, dyed-
in-the-wool Chautauquan 
as well. Arts are one of 
the four pillars of Chautauqua and 
certainly were a central pillar for Gayle 
and Andrew’s life together. They were 
longtime supporters of the Chautauqua 
Theater.
After graduating from the Art 
Institute of Pittsburgh in 1968 with 
a degree from the School of Interior 
Design, Gayle worked continuously 
as an interior designer. She was a 
professionally accredited member of the 
American Society of Interior Designers 
since 1975. She joined the Junior 
League of Detroit in 1975 as well.
Gayle’s twin passions for design and 
art are interwoven throughout her life 
and career like strands of her DNA. She 
was an accomplished, award-winning 
interior design professional whose 
work has been featured in numerous 
publications. While operating her 
high-level residential practice, GSC 
Design Associates since 1979, Gayle 
avidly pursued her love of art and 
became increasingly involved in the 
art world, most notably with the 
Detroit Institute of Arts. An example 
of her commitment to doing the best 
creative work possible and finding the 
right design is best exemplified when 
she encouraged a young child to use 
crayons to create a unique color for her 
bedroom walls.
Gayle shared a passion for 

international travel with Andrew; they 
often visited far-flung, exotic locations, 
eventually exploring more than 70 
countries. Gayle learned to appreciate 
the native textiles and began to seek 
them out as another way to experience 
and explore local culture 
more deeply. Gayle’s keen 
eye led the couple to acquire 
many pieces that were of 
interest to the DIA curators, 
causing the Camdens to 
gradually donate them to the 
DIA collection.
Gayle was an honorary 
trustee of the Detroit 
Institute of Arts and served 
on the Board of the Friends 
of Modern and Contemporary Art at 
the DIA for 35 years. Her involvement 
in the art world spanned decades, and 
she served numerous institutions and 
organizations. She served on the boards 
of the Downtown People Mover Art 
Commission, Founders Junior Council 
DIA, Detroit Artists Market and the 
American Society of Interior Designers. 
Gayle was admired, even from a young 
age, for her style and taste and known 
for her creativity throughout her life.
Mrs. Camden is survived by her 
husband, Andrew L. Camden; her 
sister, Pamela Shaw Morey; her four 
nephews. 
She was predeceased by her brother, 
Walter Carlyle Shaw III (“Corky”); and 
her sister, Deborah Shaw Hiscox. 
Contributions may be made to 
Detroit Institute of Arts-Friends 
of Modern and Contemporary Art 
Acquisitions Fund, Attn: Edward 
Maki-Schramm, 5200 Woodward Ave., 
Detroit, MI 48202, dia.org/support/
auxiliary-groups/friends-modern-
contemporary-art; Chautauqua 
Foundation, One Ames Ave., 
Chautauqua, NY 14722, chq.org/
foundation; or Planned Parenthood 
of Michigan, P.O. Box 3673, Ann 
Arbor, MI 48106, plannedparenthood.
org/planned-parenthood-michigan. 
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. 

A Life in the Arts

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Gayle Camden

