My name is Bob Dexter. Gail is my sister.
On behalf of her immediate family, Richard her husband, Capella, Walter and Dale her children. On behalf of her siblings, Linda her sister, myself, and Lois her mother, we thank you for your attendance and support during this time.
There are many of you here who may only know her professionally. Let me share a bit about her personally. Gail is one of three children born to Bill and Lois Dexter. In the sibling line-up, Gail came first. Three years later, came Linda. Again three years later, I came along. We grew up in the suburb of Detroit in Royal Oak. Mom took care of the family while Dad took care of the business. Our vacations were spent in Boyne City, which is where Mom and Dad met as kids. Dad's family rented a cabin from Mom's family. The time spent on the lake was great with swimming, boating and water skiing all week long.
I will always remember Gail's first car, an Opal Cadet GT. I don't recall what year it was. One of her friends was in the air force and gave her a huge air force insignia which she applied to the hood of the car. Its stripes wrapped over the fenders almost to the wheel well. After that, there was no mistaking that car.
Gail, being the oldest was the first of the Dexter kids to get through high school. After that she attended college. Gail choose to leave before completion. And sometime after that met Richard and got married. I am terrible at remembering timelines, so I can't bore you with details.
Gail and Richard raised three children of their own, Capella came first, followed by the twins, Walter and Dale. I visited with Gail three days before she delivered them. She had just come from the doctor who told her she was having twins. She told me that every hour the twins stayed in was a blessing. Gail loved her family very much and was very devoted to them. Richard was not just her husband, but also her best friend.
Gail always enjoyed a game of cards or dice. Certainly I can attest to the fact that when the Dexter family got together, it wouldn't be long before the cards came out. One time, we were all on a family reunion at a fancy Cancun resort. The night life consisted of loud music, dancing and drinking. But then there was the Dexter family, at a corner table playing dice or Pepper (a card game much like your Euchre).
The three of us kids grew up into different views on life, on such topics as politics and faith. So much so, that it was useless to bring it up. We would just play more cards and laugh.
During most of her adult life, Gail worked as a waitress. She was very good at it. At some point, she looked into what it would take to complete her college degree, and it turned out that it would not take much to finish. So in1992, she competed her Bachelors degree at WSU. She taught for 5 years at Cass Tech, a school that our father attended when he was in high school. And by 1999, Gail earned her PhD in EER (Educational Evaluation and Research). Gail was a late bloomer in the pursuit of higher education, but once she latched on, there was no stopping her.
Many of you know Gail from her professional side, as a professor. To our father, work was very important. He gained a solid reputation for his mechanical engineering expertise. His services were sought after from a great many companies. Likewise, Gail must have absorbed that ethic, and it compelled her to excel in all she touched. Gail's desire for knowledge was so compelling, that at an age where most people are planning their impending retirement, she was secretly considering going back to school for yet more.
I have a copy of Gail's thesis on my bookshelf. It is by far the thickest of all my books, 518 pages, single sided and double spaced. I have been known to bring it out when I have math friends over. They are amazed by it and tell me that it is something that all statisticians should have a copy of.
When our father died many years ago, Gail, Linda and I all flew to Texas where Mom and Dad were vacationing. When we went to view Dad, Gail asked me to say a few words in the form of a prayer. She must have considered me the spiritual one of the siblings. I don't think she would mind if I said the same words here for her.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.
Amen
Gail Dexter, Gail Fahoome, Prof Fahoome. Each an individual. All the same.
Thank you.