Gail died on November, 8th 2018 as a result of ovarian cancer. As she said, "People need to know about this. If more people do, maybe someone will get smart and find a cure."

She left the following behind:

I was given this life and everything in it, and now I have to give it back. This is hard. But I was privileged with a wonderful existence, and for this, I am incredibly grateful.

I was born on April 14th, 1944, the third of nine children to John S. And Katharine (Allen) Leslie. I had a rambunctious and joyful childhood filled with kids, dogs, cats, chickens, and horses. Then, on July 4th, 1965, I married Peter, and love and life began anew. We met at the Green Mountain Horse Association 100 mile ride, and I loved him at first sight.

For the first fifteen years of our marriage we dairy farmed, and I had a donut business. At the same time we raised three amazing children, Heather, Mindi, and Jefferey. Before they turned eight, Heather and Mindi continued the family tradition by riding in the GMHA 50 mile ride. As they grew older, I co-founded the North Country Pony Club where Jefferey joined his sisters, for a little time at least, in their equestrian pursuits.

After leaving the farm, I shuffled between a variety of administrative assistant positions at Dartmouth and a series of hospitality and food-service jobs in the Upper Valley beginning at Café la Fraise in Hanover. During that time, I also greatly enjoyed running my own catering business, providing for small dinner parties to weddings to banquets. The most wonderful experience I had during this time was catering and organizing my daughter Mindi's wedding on top of Caper Hill in Reading, Vermont. I also fondly remember serving as a board member of the Hanover Co-op and founding its prepared food department in the late 90's.

When my first grandchild was born, I went to nighttime work at the Norwich Inn so that I could provide full-time childcare for my own family and others. Helping to raise these children was by far the most satisfying work of my life. After they were all grown, and since everything comes full circle, I ended my working career back as an administrative assistant at Listen Community Services in Lebanon. I feel fortunate that I truly enjoyed every job I ever had; the people I worked for, worked with, and met along the way helped fulfill me and meant so much to me.

The most important part of my entire life, though, has been my family - the people who are closest to me. We have travelled through this world together, be it by horse van, rented Winnebago, or in each others' arms. And what a trip we have had.

Peter and I have not always been perfect, but working through our ups and downs and growing stronger together has been oh, so worth it. I cannot begin to tell you how

wonderful that makes the end. He is still, after 53 incredible years of marriage and just like the day I first saw him, my greatest love.

My children and their spouses and partners, Erik, Lori, and Jerry, are the pride of my life and all my grandchildren the joy of it. It has always amazed me and been a source of real pleasure that all my children and their spouses pursued rewarding careers in education in one form or another, the one thing that can save this world. The happiness that Clay, Giana, Calli, Joseph, Natalia, and Connor bring me is the perfect ending to a well-lived life.

When you think of me, please hug someone you love, plant a tree, or do something else to make the world a better place.

It is a beautiful world, I am happy to have been here.

Gail/Mom/Nanna

A celebration of Gail's life will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Upper Valley in Norwich, Vermont on Sunday, November 18th at 1:30 in the afternoon.