Gail B. Piper
March 15, 1924 - October 12, 2021
Exceptionally generous with her time and talents’
On October 12, 2021, Gail was called home at the age of 97. She was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She is survived by her daughters Betty Suryan (David) and Barbara Piper, and grandchildren and a great grandchild. She is predeceased by her husband Arnold and her children Ruth and Thomas.
Gail was born in Kansas City, Kansas in 1924. The first child to Estel (Bob) Bay and Nettie (Fae) Bay. She had a younger brother Duane L. who predeceased her. Her father had grown up on the farm with eight siblings. In adulthood he became a local business man and operated various businesses in Rock Port, Missouri, including a John Deer dealership for farm equipment and a combined gas station and automotive repair shop.
Gail attended Tarkio College in Tarkio Missouri and received a Degree in Biology and Chemistry in 1945. She continued her education at the University of Minnesota and graduated with a Master of Science Degree in 1947. At Tarkio College Gail was selected as “Who’s Who” for her scholastic ability, participation in extra-curricular activities, personality, character, and possible future usefulness to business and society. After graduation she worked in the research lab at the Mayo Clinic located in Minneapolis.
While at the University of Minnesota, she met a young dental student Lavern Arnold Piper, whom she married on March 20, 1948. After Arnold’s graduation and the birth of their first child Ruth, they moved to the Pacific Northwest settling in Snohomish and later moving to North Seattle (Shoreline). By this time three additional children had arrived, Betty, Thomas, and Barbara.
Arnold’s dental practice was established in the Greenwood area of North Seattle.
Gail maintained a home for four busy kids and her husband. Starting at a young age and throughout her life she immersed herself in volunteer activities and held many leadership rolls.
She was a long-time member of Edmonds Christian Church and later Rock of Hope Church of Edmonds. She loved music and was a life-long member of church and college choirs. She started singing in her church choir at around age 10 and sang into her mid-80s with the Crista choir. She knew all the words to most any hymn.
Gail was awarded a Life Membership of the Granite Curling Club for her past service and contributions. She and her husband Arnold Piper were founding members of the Club. They answered an ad in the local newspaper looking for anyone interested in starting a curling club in Seattle. They started curling in 1955 at the Ballard Ice Arena. She and Arnold contributed significant time and energies to the club organization, building projects, league play, maintenance, and running bonspiels (tournaments). She served as a past President of the Granidears. She made many friends and spent hours in friendly competitive weekly games and bonspiels.
After her husband’s passing, she pursued travel. She visited many National and International sites through Elderhostel (now Roads Scholar). Her ventures took her all over Europe, Israel, upper East Coast states, Alaska, London, Canada, Mexico, Egypt, Greece as well as many local west coast attractions. She loved meeting people and learning new things.
Along with the travel was an expanded interest in photography. All of her trips are well documented in boxes and boxes of slides and photographs.
Gail had a gift for writing. She was the editor and wrote for her college annual (Tarkiana); and was a proof reader and writer for the Cristwood Courier. She transcribed family historical documents from the WWI and WWII era, including combat letters received from cousin Dean Powell. She felt it was important to provide a written record of major family events of historical importance.
In her later years, she suffered a broken femur that put her into a wheel chair. It slowed her down, but she still enjoyed life and enjoyed engaging with her new caregiver friends.
It saddens our hearts that we no longer have her presence with us, but we rejoice in her homegoing. We thank God for giving us such a wonderful person in our lives.
We love you and will miss you!
FUNERAL INFORMATION
A Memorial service will be held on Wednesday December 29, 2021 @ 2 pm at North Sound Church. 404 Bell Street Edmonds, WA 98020