Mostly Cloudy, 51° F
(July 7, 2006)
Wyoming native Lura Beryl Gail died Friday, July 7 at her home in Cody following a long illness. She was 89.
She was born near Shell on June 11, 1917, to Mary Jeanette (Nettie) Hale and Tobias Borner. She spent a happy childhood on Trapper Creek, exploring the countryside with her sisters and helping her parents who were ranchers/hunting and fishing guides. Her father was also a government trapper.
On Oct. 8, 1932, in Red Lodge, Mont., she married Walter Gail of Cody. For several years, the couple, who shared a love of the outdoors, lived in Yellowstone Park where Walt worked as a carpenter. Their weekends were often spent fishing and hiking in the back country of the park. In 1937, they moved to the new home Walt built on Gail Lane. He died at their home shortly after their 61st wedding anniversary.
The word “homemaker” could best describe Lura. When her children came home from school, she generally had homemade cookies or hot bread for them. She greeted her husband with a smile and freshly-applied makeup when he came home from work and never failed to have a hot meal waiting for her family.
The Gail home was a gathering place for her children’s friends, and she was rarely too busy to help with school work or attend extra-curricular activities. Although she was never fond of flying, she often drove the launch car when her husband flew his homebuilt glider and offered support to her husband when he taught their children to fly.
She received her 25-year pin for service as a Gray Lady at the Cody Hospital was a member of DOES and Rebekah Lodge. She enjoyed playing pinochle with her card club. She loved her grandchildren and many times when they were youngsters, the Gails would load all five grandkids into the camper for a weekend fishing trip in the Beartooths.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Beryl and Winston Churchill of Powell; grandchildren Tom Churchill, Coy Churchill and wife Deb of Powell, Todd Churchill of Cody, Doug Gail and wife Tina of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Kim Howell and husband Joshua of Denver, Colo.; great-grandchildren Hailey and Austin Howell of Denver and Jackson Gail of Idaho Falls; sisters, Thelma Spiegelberg of Cody and Susan Kant of Casper; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1993; her son, Park, in 2001; a brother and three sisters.
Per her wishes, cremation has taken place and memorial services are tentatively scheduled for the first week in August.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Cody Hospital Volunteers, 707 Sheridan Avenue, Cody, WY 82414, or The Wyoming Make-A-Wish Foundation, Box 273, Casper, WY 82602, or to a charity of choice.
Ballard Funeral Home, Cody, is in charge of arrangements.
