Windsor, VT – Gail Lewis Lyman-Hatzell, 74, passed on August 1, 2025, after a brief illness.

Gail was born in CT, the daughter of Lura Bailey Lyman and Roger Tenney Lyman. She spent most of her childhood in Princeton, NJ, where she attended Princeton Day School. Gail was an incredibly talented artist and graduated from Dean College for Art, class of 1970, and later, Insituto Allende, class of 1973, in Mexico, where she studied jewelry making.

She became a premiere cloisonne jeweler, hand making elaborate pieces of jewelry, often oceanic themed, that reflected her love of nature, the sea, and the animals that lived in it. She opened a jewelry studio and shop in Vermont, settling in South Royalton, after having a gallery in the Cayman Islands in the early 80's. South Royalton would become her home for many years, and she lived happily there with her first husband William "Bill" Ryan, also her business partner.

Gail was a member of the South Royalton Volunteer Fire Department, an EMT, and an avid animal lover. After a tragic automotive accident, which took the life of her husband Bill, Gail ended her career in jewelry making, and went on to study sculpture, and work with precious metal clay. She would later meet and fall in love with William "Bill" Hatzell, or "Hatz", as he was known to his friends. The two were happily married in September of 2005, until his death in 2017. Gail and Bill resided in Warren, RI until his passing.

Throughout her life, she had several careers, including a hiking guide business, and as a mental health counselor for at-risk clients in the state of Vermont. However, she always came back to her first loves, art and animals. Whether it was horses, dogs (pugs specifically), or later in life, her cat Fancy, Gail was happiest when surrounded by animal friends.

Gail's family includes sister Althea Siebenaler of Sarasota, FL, and her brother, Roger Tenney Lyman Jr, of CA (deceased.) She is survived by many loving friends who she considered to be family. Per her wishes, there will be no service or calling hours. In lieu of flowers, Gail asked that donations be made to either the Green Mountain VT Pug Rescue Society or the South Royalton Volunteer Fire Department in her memory.