Obituaries for March 19, 2010

Gail Nelson

Gail Ann Nelson, 68, of Baker City, died March 14, 2010, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Causes are uncertain but she had been in and out of the hospital for over a year.

No services are planned at this time.

Gail was born Sept. 13, 1941, in Portland to Elwood and Esther (Stekel) Ball. After she graduated from high school she made a career in food service and worked many places in and around Baker City. She adored her cats, her charities and her close friends, all of whom she doted on and gave to generously.

Gail married Jack Nelson in Sumpter on Sept. 21, 1990, in the small church across from the home they shared there for the next 17 years. Jack died on Oct. 27, 2007, from a long fight with cancer. Gail sold her home in Sumpter and moved to Baker City in 2008, where she remained until her death.

Gail had neither children nor any close living relatives, but she is survived by her close friends: Renee Edwards, Marlene Dickerson, Tenee Cashmere, Sage Morris and Bonnie Dennis, as well as many other friends. We shall miss here, they said; she left her mark on our hearts.

Contributions in Gail’s memory may be made to Best Friends of Baker, through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.