Gail Campbell

Gail Campbell passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home on Lake Fenton on March 16, 2023.  Gail was a loving, kind, patient, intelligent, funny, resilient and modest woman, who put her family first in everything she did in life.  She asked that her life be celebrated, and that her passing not be a sad occasion. As in life, the last thing Gail wanted was to make anyone feel bad.  So we celebrate Gail Campbell with love!

Funeral Services will be at 12:00 PM Monday, March 27, 2023 at Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel, 1000 Silver Lake Road, Fenton. (The service will be livestreamed from her obituary page at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Gail-Campbell). Interment will follow at 2:00 PM at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly. Visitation will be at the funeral home Monday from 10:00 AM until the service time. Contributions in her memory may be made to Meals on Wheels.

Gail was born on Sept. 16, 1937 (we can now admit).  Her parents were Lloyd McCormick and Maxine (Pear) McCormick (later Maxine Rice).  She grew up happily in Otisville, Michigan, as she used to say "We were poor, but we didn't know it.  Everyone helped us and everyone was kind to us".  She said it was like growing up in Mayberry.  She enjoyed family life as the second youngest child with her siblings Louanne (DeBoer), Ned, Tom, and Judi (Landesman).  She enjoyed sports, family parties, Homecoming, and swimming at the gravel pit.  She had many wonderful relatives, but Aunt Barbara Pear provided so many fun adventures.  Her special lifelong friend from childhood was Shari (Mosier) Polli.

Gail attended Otisville schools, which became the Lakeville school district just about the time she graduated from high school.  She was proud to be the salutatorian of her class, and also enjoyed attending Girls State and playing on sports teams.  Gail attended Flint Junior College after high school.  She also worked for A.C. Spark Plug.  She met Bob Daunt who was also attending Flint J.C., and they married.  They had three sons, Joe, Tim, and Matt, and moved from Flint to Burton, where there were many young families of similar ages.

In the mid1960's Gail and Bob divorced.  They made this easier for their family by never saying a bad word to the kids about each other for the rest of their lives. Gail worked as a Secretary for Dale Hicks Realty and enjoyed the work, but it was challenging to be a single mother with 3 young children.

Gail was introduced to Dr. David S. Campbell by Aunt Barbara just as he was finishing his residency and being drafted into the Army.  They married on April 28, 1967 in Otisville.  The family followed David to Mineral Wells, Texas for a year of military training, and then returned to Burton while David served a year in Vietnam as a flight surgeon.  A year in Lapeer followed, and then the family settled down in Grand Blanc for about 23 years.  Beloved daughter Lisa was born in 1971.  David and Gail moved to their Lake Fenton home in 1993, where they remained through the present during the nice weather months.

Gail was the most wonderful mother anyone could have.  She was kind, patient, humorous, and supportive, but also laid down the law when required. Her kids knew that with Mom on their side, things would work out.  Her life revolved around her family and giving them a good life.  She made everything fun.  Gail was very involved in the kids' schooling and sports, attending all of the sports events for all four kids, and Lisa's musical events.  As one school friend recently said "Your Mom was wonderfully welcoming and very funny. I hope she knew she was loved by all of your friends."  Gail always tried to make everyone feel welcome, whether it was food or drink, a blanket to keep warm, a gift, or a hug.  She made everyone feel at home.

Gail also enjoyed hosting the extended family Christmas Eve Party for over 30 years, the one annual event that brought most of the extended family together.

Besides her family, Gail loved to keep up on current events. She received 3 daily newspapers when that was possible, and recorded all three evening news shows from the major networks when that became possible.  She volunteered for many years at the Buick Open golf tournament, both at the Flint Elks and then at Warwick Hills.  She enjoyed her garden in both Michigan and Florida, interior design, and relaxing in Florida in her Palm Harbor home during the winter months.  She absolutely loved to laugh, and said she could just watch Seinfeld all day and be content.

Gail's most cherished role was mother and grandmother.  To the grandkids, she was Gramma Sugar.  She was devoted to creating the best lives possible for her four children and grandchildren  including Joe Daunt and wife Karen Kennedy (Portland, OR.) Tim Davis-Daunt and wife Leah Davis-Daunt (Southfield, MI.) and granddaughter Timothie Davis, Matt Daunt and wife Laurie Daunt (Davison, Mi.) and grandkids Madeline, Lucas, and Charles Daunt.  Gail was also happy that her daughter Lisa Campbell (Palm Harbor, FL.) lives near their Florida home and that they were able to spend a lot of time together over the years.  Gail loved to talk about her family, and she often said they were her greatest achievement.

The last couple of years were challenging for Mom. During this time the whole family was fortunate to have assistance from too many people to name, but a few are Nate Landesman, Eric McCormick, Danielle Curtis, and Rocky Roll  There were many more.  And Gail said we must thank the many home health aides who tried to do so much even as they are underpaid and underappreciated by our society.

Gail also had many loving friends throughout her life, too many to name, but she valued her friendship with all, even those she had not seen for years, so please know you were in her heart.

Gail was predeceased by all of her beloved siblings, and survived by in-laws Dian McCormick (Ned), Carol McCormick (Tom), and Don Landesman (Judi).  In-law Bob DeBoer (Louanne) passed in 2020.

Husband David thanks all for your love and condolences, as do the rest of the family.  There will likely be a remembrance of Gail's life later this coming summer, so stay tuned.

Gail was naturally funny, loving, caring, generous, protective, and passionate.  Her love, care for others, and generous nature will live on in her extended family and all those who knew her well.  She will be desperately missed, but will live on in our hearts and hopefully in our actions for many years.

Gail loved sunsets on Lake Fenton and said "Even though the sunset happens every night, it's never the same.  Each one is unique and beautiful".  May we all think of beautiful Gail when we see a lovely sunset.

Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com