Gayleen Rollins

With a heavy heart we share the news that Gayleen Rollins passed away March 10, 2025 at her home in Plainwell, Michigan.

Gayleen was the loving mother to Ash, Dylan, and Ky and the cherished grandmother of Evan, Gavin, Aiden and Tristen. She will be dearly missed by her sister Leah and her extended family.

Gayleen was born January 11, 1949 to Lee and Ellen Rollins of Morgan, Utah. As a kid, Gayleen loved riding horses, playing with her many cousins, and camping at the family’s picnic grounds in the mountains above Mountain Green, Utah. In high school she was a majorette with the marching band and the Morgan County Dairy Princess (aka Dairy Ambassador). She enjoyed helping with her father on the family’s ranch and took pride in their prize-winning cattle.

She graduated from Morgan high and attended Weber State University before going on to Utah State University on scholarship where she graduated with a degree in education.

Gayleen had three sons, Ky, Ash and Dylan with her first husband, H.B. Calder. She and H.B. lived outside Chicago before settling in Ann Arbor, Michigan where she helped raise her kids.

Gayleen was an accomplished technical writer with speaking engagements at international software conferences. She loved singing with the local choir, playing the flute, and gardening.

On December 18, 1992, Gayleen married John Rizzo. Together they purchased a small farm outside Plainwell, MI where they raised, bred and showed prize-winning alpacas. She delighted in sharing her love of alpacas with anyone who stopped by. Together, Gayleen and John loved to travel and share long hours fishing together out on the lake. Gayleen lost her husband in 2016 after a devastating battle with dementia.

Gayleen thrilled at the many and varied wild birds she attracted to her numerous birdfeeders. She loved to watch sports, with tennis, basketball, baseball and football being her favorites. She enjoyed animal-care documentaries and took pride in caring for her own beloved pets.

Gayleen doted on her grandkids. She was immensely proud of her four grandsons. She talked often of their hobbies and their visits to the farm. She cherished their phone calls and the cards they exchanged.

Her family will hold a private celebration of her life. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to one of Gayleen’s charities of choice: Mathew Shepard Foundation, National Mill Dog Rescue, Fisher House Foundation.