Gail Ross, born in Bad Axe, Michigan, passed away peacefully with loved ones by her side on March 9, 2021. She lived a full and impactful 71 years.

After she graduated from Bad Axe High, she went to Central Michigan University and received a degree in elementary education. She started her career teaching 2nd grade in Augusta, Maine. After two years, she moved back to Bad Axe where she spent the next 33 years teaching 3rd grade until she retired in June 2007. Teaching was her passion as she strove to make her lessons exciting and interesting. In addition to teaching, she was actively involved in the Bad Axe school drama department, assisting with any and all things asked of her. The impact she had on those she taught is immeasurable.

While she spent the school year in Bad Axe, part of her heart was always in Ocean Point, Maine. For those who knew her, knew that once the end of the school year came, she would have her car packed and ready to head to the cottage. She spent summers eating lobster, being a travel guide for first time Maine visitors, spending time with friends and family and swimming in the Atlantic. Making jam was an annual event and she provided many people with the various flavor jams she made. It was not uncommon for former students to stop by the cottage for a visit if they were near the area.

Anytime you visited her, you could count on her having a cold Coke and a dish full of chocolates available for the taking. She was always happy to have company and never ran out of things to talk about.

While she had many hobbies, the most notable ones were knitting and painting. She enjoyed the occasional trip to the casino, and never turned down a chance to go out to dinner with friends. Gail loved people, loved to laugh, and spend her time with those she cared about most. She enjoyed life, had a kind heart, and was generous whenever there was a need.

She had the spirit of an adventurer. She enjoyed traveling, with the most recent international trips being Africa and Australia, accompanied by her niece, Susan. Always one to try new things (mostly) she zip-lined across Victoria Falls, went on safari, snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef and took a couple exciting helicopter rides.

Her legacy will live on in those she left behind. Her brother, Christopher Ross, nephews Michael (Abbi Halkola) Ross of Houghton, Michigan, and Peter (Jessica) Ross of Brighton, Michigan, and nieces Karen (Dan) Valentine of Houghton, Michigan and Susan (Luke) Anderson of Waseca, Minnesota. She also leaves behind her great nephews Jack, Seth and Nate Valentine, Liam Ross and her great niece Paige Valentine. She will be missed dearly by close friends and relatives near and far, too numerous to name.

She was preceded in death by her parents Todd and Mary Ross, as well as her sister-in-law Marilyn Ross.

As per her wishes, there will be no funeral, but a small, private burial in Augusta, Maine. She will be laid to rest next to her parents whom she has so dearly missed.

In lieu of flowers or memorials, please consider donating to the Bad Axe Public Schools for the drama department at 200 N. Barrie Rd. Suite 100, Bad Axe, MI 48413 or the Ocean Point Colony Trust at P.O. Box 642, East Boothbay, ME 04544. Both are organizations she loved and supported.