Gail Hayden passed away on May 30th, 2023 at the age of 84. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lieutenant Colonel Kent Hayden (1998). Gail was born on December 15th, 1938, in Seattle Washington, to Earnest Tomlin and Lorena Nickerson. She was the second of two children. Her other sibling is Janice Smith, who currently resides in Fenton Missouri. Gail met her husband of 47 years and raised three boys and a daughter; Kurt Hayden (Monica), Kevin Hayden (Jodi), Keith Hayden (Chong), and Suzanne Mentzos (Lee), all whom she loved dearly.

Gail met her husband at a dance when she was in high school. She was 17 and Kent was 21. They married three weeks after they met and imediately went to Travis AFB to start their lives together. As a military family, we were always on the move and lived in many interesting places.

Her family was at her side when she went to be with her husband, Kent. She is looking at us all from the comfort of Heaven, with caring and love, knowing she will get to be with us someday. We all love her so very much and she will be greatly missed.

Gail was the "Go To" Mother and friend to all the neighbors and their children, helping out with everything including medical attention, discipline & entertainment. Gail was an exceptional homemaker, gardener, cook and baker (chocolate chip cookies were her specialty and always grabbed up faster than she could bake them). She was the lady in charge. Many and most functions were always held at the Hayden house whether it was Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter or the July 4th party.

Professionally, Gail was a stay-at-home Mother which involved the duties of things like preparing meals, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, taking care of the children, and driving them to and from their activities. Gail also took  on additional tasks such as grocery shopping, paying bills, and managing the family budget.

Gail loved having a houseful of teenagers and the home was always filled with friends, family, laughter, and fun.

Gail enjoyed working hundreds of jigsaw puzzles, watching her favorite movies (her favorite being The African Queen) over and over and hanging out with her cat Thomas. She lived the life she wanted and family was always first.

Gail's legacy remains with her grandchildren, and her many great grandchildren. She will be dearly missed by each and every single one of us.

A family funeral will be held at New Tacoma Cemetery June 7th, at 10:00am. Flowers or cards may be sent to the New Tacoma Cemetery located at 9212 Chambers Creek Rd W, University Place, WA 98467.