Gail Colson

Gail Lee Colson left this world on June 3, 2015 to be with her Father in Heaven.  She is survived by her husband, retired USAF Major James L. Colson, and her children James B. Colson, Jeffrey S. Colson, and Florida Air National Guard Colonel Julia A. Kyrazis.  She leaves seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, and the memory of one lost grandchild, Leigha Kyrazis.  She also leaves behind her brother Ron Miller and her sister Carol Welch, and their families. Gail was born on August 16, 1941 in Hamilton, Montana.  She graduated as Salutatorian from Hamilton High School in 1959, and moved to Spokane, Washington where she graduated with top honors from Kinman Business College.   It was there that she met her future husband who was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base.  They were married on May 19, 1960.  She gave birth to her oldest two children in Spokane before the new family was reassigned to Tachikawa Air Base near Tokyo, Japan.   The family’s daughter was born in Japan.  Future assignments for the Air Force family included stations in Alabama, Mississippi, Turkey, California, Germany, Florida, and again in California where Major Colson retired.  The retired couple moved back to Gail’s home state, living in Corvallis and Stevensville, Montana, before moving most recently to Sun City, AZ, having previously wintered in the Phoenix area for several years. Gail lived a devoted life of service to her husband and family.  As a dedicated Air Force wife, she raised her children and supported her husband’s career through all of their various assignments and moves.  She was always organized and willing to do whatever it took to ensure everyone around her was successful and happy.  She worked in a couple of retail sales positions on bases where the family was assigned, and her last position was as an Attendance Administrator at Center High School in Antelope, California. Gail was a dedicated member of the LDS Church, and supported local church activities as well as her husband’s callings within the Church. Her family and her many friends will miss her great intelligence, her warm smile, her welcome words of advice, and her love. Funeral services for Gail will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 8, 2015, at Menke Funeral & Cremation Center with interment to follow at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.