After years of battling Alzheimer's disease, Gail Louann Ford, 74, of Coyle passed away in her home, surrounded by family, in the early morning hours of June 12. Funeral services will be held at the First Christian Church of Coyle, at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 16, 2011, with Rev. Merle Kinser and Jared Graham officiating. Burial will follow at Coyle Cemetery.

Gail, one of five children, was born to Harvey and Veda Nivens on July 12, 1936. She was born at the family home near the Pleasant Valley area northwest of Coyle. The first eight years of her life she rode her horse to attend school at the nearby, one-room, Victory schoolhouse. In 1948 as a 4-H member she exhibited the first grand champion steer form Logan County to go on to receive grand champion steer in the spring state livestock show in Oklahoma City. In 1954 she graduated from Coyle High School where she had the honor of being basketball homecoming queen. In 1955 she was crowned 89er Rodeo queen. In her youth she enjoyed riding horses, showing cattle, and playing basketball. She was a gifted musician who loved to sing and play the clarinet and piano.

After one year of college at Oklahoma State University, she married Warren Edward Ford on June 21, 1956 and together they had two daughters. The resided northeast of Coyle and farmed all of their 54 years together. As an adult Gail worked for two years at the Oklahoma Publishing Company in Guthrie, was involved in the Coyle Christan Church were she taught
Sunday school, led musical praise, and played the piano, taught head start for two years, and worked with the local and county 4-H groups and the Logan County Home Extension Club. In 1976 she went back to finish her two years of school and received a bachelor's degree in education from OSU. For 22 years Gail was a devoted middle school teacher for the Coyle Public School system. She enjoyed traveling, sewing, and cooking; however, nothing brought her more joy than spending time with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband Edward of the home, daughters Lisa Christy and husband Daryl of Atoka and Lori Cooksey and husband Chad of Drumright, sisters Sharen Nivens of Stillwater and Judy Raupe and husband Glen of Douglas, KS, brother Darrel Nivens and wife Linda of Coyle, grandsons Josh O'Neal and wife Jessica of Orlando, Lance Phillips and wife Sarah of Memphis, TN, Kyle Phillips of Edmond, Eric Cammiso of Atoka, granddaughters Chandler Payne of Edmond and Melissa Christy of Atoka, and four great-grandchildren Jacob, Kaitlyn, and Mackenzie O'Neal and Mason Phillips.

She was prceded in death by both parents; one brother Dale; and one grandson Matthew Christy.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. and Wednesday 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

Services are under the direction of Hayes Funeral Home Guthrie. The family asks that all memorial contributions be made in Gail's name, to Judith Karman Hospice, Inc., P.O. Box 818, Stillwater, OK 74076.