Gayle Eloy Tolifson

Gayle Eloy Tolifson was born on March 7, 1947, in Graceville, MN, to the late Arlene and Donavan Tolifson. He attended West High School, Phoenix College, and earned his BA in Education from Western State College of Colorado. Gayle dedicated his professional career of 30 years to teaching Physical Education and coaching wrestling in the state of Arizona.

Gayle moved to Arizona from Minnesota with his family at 9 years old. Residing in central Phoenix, he met his wife, Christina, when they were both freshmen at West High. He began wrestling his sophomore year and became a two-time State Champion both his junior and senior years. After his senior year, he traveled to Japan as a member of the US National High School Wrestling Squad. They toured the country competing against the best Japanese wrestlers.

After high school, he attended Phoenix College where he won the 1968 National Junior College Wrestling Championship. That same year, he was an alternate for the Greco-Roman US Wrestling Olympic Team. Gayle attended Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado, where he was the 1969 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Champion. In 1970, he married his high school sweetheart, Christina Felix, of Phoenix. The newlyweds moved to Clifton, Arizona, where Gayle began his teaching career. He taught at Clifton High School for two years where he initiated the wrestling program. He also instructed and coached at Greenway and Apollo High Schools in the Glendale Union High School District. In retirement, he was inducted into the Phoenix Union District Athletic Hall of Fame.

The majority of Gayle’s life was dedicated to teaching, wrestling, and spending time with his family. He took pleasure in camping, hunting, fishing, riding motorcycles, and relishing in the cooler weather at his cabin in Munds Park. He loved entertaining others, meeting new people, and building relationships. He leaves behind a profound legacy through his children, grandchildren, and former athletes and students. Gayle will be greatly missed, but our wonderful memories of him will be cherished forever in our hearts.

Gayle was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Lyle; and sister, Pati. He is survived by his wife, Christina; their children: Alan Tolifson (Rose), Janet Porter (Sean), and Michael Tolifson; grandchildren: Brisa Tolifson, Zachary Porter, and Jacob Porter, and many loving relatives.

A Visitation and Funeral Mass will all be held at St. Gregory Catholic Church, 3424 North 18th Avenue, in Phoenix, on Wednesday November 5, 2025. Visitation will begin at 9:00am at the church located in Gordon Hall, Funeral Mass will begin at 10:00am in the main church. Fellowship will immediately follow the Mass back at Gordon Hall, where the family invites all family and friends to continue the celebration of Gayle’s life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Apollo High School Wrestling Program in the Glendale Union High School District. (8045 North 47th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85302)