Nancy Gorrell. Courtesy of her family
Nancy Elizabeth Gorrell, beloved artist, illustrator, environmentalist, educator, activist, and devoted mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on the evening of Dec. 19, 2025.
Nancy was born on Aug. 16, 1937, in Watsonville, California, to Emma Lorraine Dalton (nee Franzen) and Herbert Francis Dalton. Nancy and her three brothers (John, Ernest and Stuart Dalton) grew up on the family apple ranch. She stated that this was where she learned to love and protect nature, a passion that would continue throughout her life.
She moved to Oakland in 1954 and graduated from Oakland High School in 1955. Always a talented artist, Nancy attended the California College of Arts and Crafts with a full ride scholarship. It was there that Nancy met and married her first husband, artist Robert Bechtle, with whom she parented her children Max Bechtle and Anne Bechtle Higgins. After a divorce, Nancy married architect Mark Gorrell in a lively ceremony on the Winter Solstice in 1982. They were married until his passing in 2011. Nancy and Mark were kindred spirits and shared a beautiful life together weaving together family, community and environmental activism.
Nancy was a longtime resident of Berkeley and lived there for 60 years. Her home was a place of conversation, warmth, shared purpose, as well as many shenanigans. She was actively involved in her neighborhood and loved the sense of community she had with her other “Mendocino Matronettes.”
Read more about her activism around Indigenous Peoples Day
Nancy was an extremely creative, and generous person. Freely giving her time and talents to the people and causes that she loved. Some of the accomplishments that Nancy was most proud of included her role in establishing “Indigenous Peoples Day” as a holiday in Berkeley, and now recognized nationally. Her many years of tireless work in the Recycling and Zero Waste movements both locally and internationally. Her creation of the “Lone Recycler” comic book that helped promote and envision a zero waste future. The teaching of countless children to draw fearlessly, harness their creativity and respect the environment through her work in after-school programs in Berkeley, Oakland and Albany.
Her influence lives on in the books and comics that she created, including illustrations for “Berkeley A to Z,” “Oakland A to Z” and” Nevada A to Z” coloring books and the “Lone Recycler” comic book.
Nancy Gorrell. Courtesy of her family
She always said that her biggest source of joy and pride was her family, her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews, and a large group of cousins.
She leaves behind a legacy of love, creativity, and deep community engagement. She is survived by her son, Max Bechtle, and daughter, Anne Higgins, their spouses, daughter-in-law, Kara Bechtle, and son-in law, Kevin Higgins, her cherished grandchildren: Brendan Higgins, Aidan Higgins, Declan Higgins, and Allison Bechtle, her brothers Ernest and Stuart Dalton, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews, and beloved cousins alongside many cherished lifelong friends and neighbors. All of whom were touched by her light, love and generosity of spirit.
In memory of Nancy Elizabeth Gorrell, please consider making a donation to:
Nancy Gorrell. Credit: Kevin Higgins
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