Obituary of Gail Denise McGaughey

Obituary of Gail McGaughey ~~Smart. Accomplished. Shy. Loyal. Gail Denise McGaughey was all of these things, and would often dream of a grander life filled with love, family and unbridled luxury. She managed to experience most of these lofty aspirations – especially love and family – during her 66 years. Yet to know her was to experience a person in obvious possession of greatness and potential. Gail was born on April 20, 1951 in Dallas, Texas, the oldest of three children to Kenneth A. McGaughey Sr. and Priscilla Frances McGaughey. As the academically highest achieving child in the family, Gail graduated Salutatorian from Roosevelt High School in Oak Cliff, and was always searching for ways to improve herself, display her abilities, which included being an accomplished pianist, and stand out among her peers. Her broad and captivating smile, along with her exceptionately tall-and-slender frame, propelled her to be named runner up in the highly competitive Miss Teenage Dallas pageant. After high school, Gail attended Tufts University, a prestigious private university just outside Boston, Massachusetts, on a scholarship. She graduated with a B.S. degree in Hospital Administration, and began her professional career in that field. Gail was a caregiver for several years to many of her nieces and nephews when they were small children, spent long stretches of time caring for her maternal grandmother, and the last 10 years of her life as a devoted companion and caregiver to her mother and father. She was completely enthralled by fashion design, could bake a mean and memorable pound cake, and shared her family’s passion for the Dallas Cowboys. Gail was preceded in death by her parents: Kenneth McGaughey Sr. and Priscilla McGaughey, and is survived by her two brothers Kenneth Jr., and Gerald, their spouses: Debra and Doris, respectively, and seven nieces and nephews: Ashley, Kenny, Erin, Lindsey, Gerald, Natalie and Mathew and many other cousins and relatives. We loved Gail, her fierce and loyal spirit, kindness, and devotion to family. Her hearty laugh, determination and smiled graced us for what seems like only a brief moment, but will forever be remembered and cherished. “Appreciate the people God gives you. You never know when He will need them back.” – Anonymous