Gail Hervey

On Saturday, May 15, 2021, at age 73, Gail Hervey departed this world and is now walking and dancing pain free at home with the Lord.
Gail was born in 1948 in Davenport, Iowa to Frank and Ada Dodson. She has one sister, Karen. As a military child, Gail was fortunate to travel all over the world growing up. She attended high school and college in Joplin, Missouri where she was a 1st chair flute player and majored in music.
In 1969, Gail met and married Robert Hervey. Robert and Gail were married for 52 years and together they had two children, Michael, and Jennifer, and six grandchildren, Alyxandria, Cassandra, Kaylee, Joshua, Daniel, and Sarah.
A woman of many talents, Gail was an accomplished artist. Gail taught art and music, worked as a florist, and co-managed a retirement home with Robert. However, Gail's heart and soul went into raising her two kids. They say that a mother is also a chef, nurse, chauffer, cheerleader, teacher, counselor, and friend. Gail filled all these roles and excelled at every one of them. Not only to her children, but also to her grandchildren.
A skilled seamstress, she could sew everything from figure skating costumes to doll clothes to wedding dresses. Gail could also paint and draw remarkably well and enjoyed spending time with her daughter and granddaughters painting and sharing treasured moments with them. Gail always wanted to illustrate and publish children's books. While she never saw her books in print, she made several for her daughter who would say that Gail is the best children's author/illustrator in the world.
Some things her family would like you to know about Gail. She was kind to everyone she met. She was also one of the most loving people you would ever meet. Gail took women's intuition a step farther and had an uncanny sense about people. She was always thinking of others before herself and had a smile that lit up her entire face. Despite the fact that she lived in debilitating pain for much of her life, Gail was always smiling and always positive. Even when waking in the morning, she would get a big smile on her face and say, "Good morning!" She loved quotes, she loved to sing, and she loved life.
Gail was inherently good, and most of all, she loved the Lord. When asked to fill out a book with questions about her life, questions such as "what was the first cuss word you spoke" were answered with "I never said one," and "Who did you most envy" with "I don't remember being envious." And anyone that knew Gail, knows these answers to be true. She instilled in her family strong values and will be dearly missed.
Gail was a shining light in a dark world to all that knew her. Gail is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Ada Dodson.
Gail will be missed by her husband Robert; her sister, Karen; her son, Michael; daughter, Jennifer; and her six grandchildren.
A celebration of Gail's life here on earth and her return to heaven with the Father will take place on Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 1:00 PM at the Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel, 5750 US 277 South, Abilene, TX 79606.
I lieu of flowers, please send donations in Gail's honor to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, as that charity always touched Gail's heart.