Gail Frances Koepke

On January 23, 1943 Gale Frances Koepke was born to RD and Barbara Koepke at Denver General Hospital in Denver, CO. Welcoming her home was her older brother, Donald. Gale spent her childhood in the small town of Deer Trail, Colorado. When she was five years old, the family moved to a farm outside of Deer Trail. The house did not have electricity, a telephone, or running water. Gale enjoyed helping on the farm, riding her horse, Blackie, and enjoyed fishing. Her family holidays were spent playing Bingo and playing to win “white elephant” gifts.

Gale started school at the Deer Trail School. The town only had one 2-story school house for grades first through twelve grades. On her first day of school, her teacher told her that her parents spelled her name wrong. G-A-L-E was the boy’s spelling of the name. The teacher made her learn to spell it G-A-I-L. She was forever known from that day as G-a-i-l. Gail was an extremely bashful child. Her mom stuttered when she spoke. Gail picked up this habit. She was afraid to talk, fearing she would also stutter.

When Gail was twelve years old, her father died of a heart attack and complications from Type 2 diabetes. Although her mother was very distraught over the passing of her husband, she managed to work on the farm until 1958. In 1958, Barbara sold the family farm. Gail and her mom moved into the town of Deer Trail. Gail’s high school days were great for her self-esteem. She became more confident as she became involved in school activities. During her sophomore year, she was selected as “Princess” at the Junior-Senior Prom. She participated in Pep Club, was a cheerleader, acted in several of the drama club's plays, and was selected to go to Girls State.

Gail had an ornery side to her. In her senior year of high school, her friends would play “Ditch-Em” with cars as they drove around smoking cigars. One night a group of her friends put fireworks inside a mailbox and watched as it blew up. The FBI even came to investigate. She played innocent and said, “She did not know a thing.” The car that Gail drove had spotlights that were mounted on the vehicle. One night Gail and her friend, Roberta, drove around flashing people’s houses with the spotlights.

During Gail’s senior year of high school, she met Jack Coonts from Strausburg, CO. Jack was Gail’s date at her senior prom. She often said that Jack was “so good-looking” and she instantly fell in love with him after that first date. At the time there was a family in Deer Trail also with the last name Coonts. Her mom believed they were a “bad family” and said she would never allow her daughter to marry a “Coonts man”. Over the years, Jack won her over and she adored Jack. Although Jack did not want a big, church wedding, Gail won out.

The couple were married on September 9, 1962, at the First Baptist Church in Deer Trail. After the wedding, the couple moved to Denver. Realizing that big city life was not for them, in 1964, the couple moved to Limon, CO. On September 1, 1965, they were blessed with their first daughter, Candi. In 1968 Jack took a job at Pepsi-Cola in Greeley, CO. On January 25, 1969, the couple welcomed their second daughter, Annette. The family moved to Ft. Collins in 1972 after Jack was transferred.

Gail loved the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Jack and Gail would take their family to the mountains many weekends staying in cabins that did not have electricity or running water. The family’s favorite activity was playing cards and board games. After Jack died Gail began playing cards with her friends, Virginia, Beverly, Nadine, and Kathy. When her friends first asked her to play, she told them she did not want to be committed to having to play. She ended up being fully committed and played with them once a week. She cherished the time she spent with her dearest friends. Over the years, the card club lost and then gained many different ladies. The weekly card playing tradition continued until the very end of her life.

In 1975, the couple moved to Wray, CO. Jack and Gail both worked at the hardware store at Consumer’s CO-OP. After a few years, Gail became the secretary at the CO-OP fertilizer plant and Jack became the General Manager. In 1992 Jack and Gail bought a carpet cleaning and bathtub refinishing business. They named it Brite-n-Clean. They moved to Sterling, CO for a few years, but eventually returned to Wray where they resided for the rest of their married lives. After selling Brite-n-Clean, the couple began to clean First Pioneer National Bank. Gail continued doing this after Jack died in 2004 until 2021. She was 79 years old when she retired. Her goal was to work until she was eighty years old, but her body just did not let her.

Every person that met Gail instantly loved her. Gail was a beautiful soul. There are so many words that can describe her beautiful personality: funny, spunky, sassy, kind, loving, witty. Although growing up as a shy, bashful child, she said many times that her true personality came out when she met Jack. She finally met someone who let her truly become herself. Gail was out-going and was often described as the “life-of the party” and the “fun mom.” Gail had the best sense of humor. She loved to laugh, joke, and tease. She had the most amazing smile that would light up every room.

Gail had a way with words. You never knew what would come out of her mouth. She had a habit of mixing up her words or calling things by the wrong word. When she did this, it was usually followed by, “Well, you know what I mean.” Although she usually had a very even-keeled, and calm personality, she was also very stubborn. If she did not want to do something, there was no way she would do it. Gail was very curious. She loved to ask questions and wanted to know every detail about her family's lives.

Gail is preceded in death by her husband, Jack Coonts. She is survived by her daughters, Candi Coonts and Annette Bracelin, son-in-law James Bracelin; grandchildren, Luke and Parker Bracelin, Brooklynn and Oneal Lenz, Kristen Sholes, and Morgan Sholes, and great granddaughter, Aubrey Bracelin.

Gail died peacefully in her sleep at her home on January 22, 2026. Funeral services will be held on February 10th at 2:00 p.m. at First Christian Church in Wray, CO.