Remembering Gail
I first met Gail in the 1990s, though it always felt like we had been friends forever. Gail had a remarkable gift – the ability to make you feel like her best friend, even as she somehow managed to make everyone else feel the same way. That was just who Gail was.
What I treasure most are the everyday moments. Gail didn’t wait for special occasions to show up for the people she loved. She was there for my daughter Arielle in countless ways – picking her up from school, taking her to appointments, spending summer days with her when I needed to work. These weren’t grand gestures to Gail; this was simply how she loved people.
Even after I moved up north, distance meant nothing to her. She would drive anywhere – just to meet for lunch or coffee. And when I moved, she was kind enough to organize and host my farewell party – a gesture that made the transition feel full of love and connection. Time with the people she cared about was never an inconvenience; it was always a gift she was eager to give.
Gail had a wonderful talent for bringing people together and gently coaxing us out of our comfort zones. She could turn an ordinary day into something memorable – a ceramic studio birthday party, or an art class over Zoom during COVID when we all needed connection most. Her creativity, her laughter, her warmth – they made every moment brighter and more alive.
When I think of Gail now, I hear her voice – that unmistakable Oklahoman greeting: “Hi Jill!” It always made me smile. Still does. Those little moments, full of her humor and boundless generosity, are what I carry with me.
Her passing was sudden, and I miss her more than I can express. There’s an emptiness where her friendship used to be, where those phone calls, lunch dates, and bursts of laughter used to fill my life. But even in missing her, I feel deeply fortunate to have had Gail as my friend. The laughter we shared, the adventures we took, the friendship we built—that stays with me. That’s forever. Thank you, Gail, for every moment. You made my life richer, brighter and more joyful.
