Gail Leo

“Ruby” Gail Parker Leo April 24, 1928-May 12, 2016 Gail was the middle child of Frank B. and Vinnie Edith Parker. As a girl growing up in Howard & Poncha Springs, Colorado, she enjoyed helping her father, who she called “papa” with farming chores. “Ruby Gail” also found time to get into some mischief with her younger brother Dick. One of her best memories of her sister Ellen was the 2 days they spent sorting through Grandma Parker’s things, laughing, crying and sharing memories. Gail met Joe Leo in High School and they graduated together in 1947. She married Joe, the love of her life on November 9, 1948 and they moved to Washington state. While he finished his degree, Gail made a happy home for them in their little apartment where after a time they welcomed Kathleen and later Paul to their home. They moved to Denver in 1951 and lived there for 39 years where they raised their family. Wherever they lived, it was more than just a house, it was a home full of laughter, hope and love. We had a wonderful sense security. Mom’s creativity made the simplest things into a world of excitement and adventure. Learning to fish in a 2 gallon pail or Kathy making mud pies and feeding them to her younger brother were just a few of mom’s allowances. No matter where she went, Gail made lifelong friends and she was always the one who was a champion for her nieces & nephews, who called her “Auntie”. Her kids and their friends knew they could always count on her for help and encouragement. She was a prayer warrior for those in need and also faithful in sending cards and letters to everyone she knew. Gail loved the Lord and professed her faith in him at an early age; and this really was evident throughout her life even to her last breath. She was always very creative with the flannel-graphs she made to illustrate Bible stories for her Sunday School class as well as making special birthday cakes for her grandchildren, even sewing a wild plaid sports coat for Paul for a special event in High School. In 1993 while living in Hemet, CA Gail committed herself to teaching her grandchildren in their Home School classroom and left a lasting legacy in their lives. Soon after moving to Grand Junction in 2002 Joe & Gail became Great Grandparents for the first time. Gail was a mother of 2 children, Grandmother of 6 grandchildren, and Great Grandmother of 7 great grandchildren. Joe & Gail celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary in 2015. God blessed us with a loving wife and mother who was nurturing and caring and who loved the Lord.