Gail Frances Coonts

Gail was private about her life and rarely talked about her childhood. After Gail’s retirement, Annette often told her that she needed to help her write her obituary. She said her life was boring and she really did not have anything interesting to say. Annette gave her a notepad and told her not to write her obituary, but instead tell her story. Here is Gail’s story, mostly written in her own words. After reading what she had written, Annette told her, “Mom, you had a beautiful life and you are anything but boring.”

Gail Frances Koepke Coonts

On a cold winter day on January 23, 1943, Gale Frances Koepke was born at Denver General Hospital to RD and Barbara Koepke. Barbara was released from the hospital after seven days and the family made the long journey fifty miles east of Denver to Deer Trail, CO. Gale was welcomed home by her four-year-old brother, Donald.

Gale spent her childhood in Deer Trail. When she was five years old, the family moved to a farm outside of Deer Trail. The house did not have electricity, a telephone, running water, or indoor plumbing. Her dad was a dairy farmer. Gail’s job on the farm was to help milk the cows both day and night. Her father also raised wheat, barley, and cane. Gail enjoyed helping on the farm and riding her horse, Blackie, fishing with her brother, and playing with her dogs. Her holidays were spent with her family playing Bingo and winning “white elephant’ gifts. Gale remembered the excitement when she moved into a house with electricity and purchased their first television.

Gail started school at the Deer Trail school. The town only had one two-story schoolhouse for grades first through twelve. 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 her name, G-A-I-L. She was forever known from that day as Gail. 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 and 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 later 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. They were stopped by police officers and asked politely to go home. Her mother made her take the spotlights of her car the next day.

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. Gail’s mother did not believe in drinking, smoking, or dancing. At the time there was a family in Deer Trail also with the last name Coonts, who partook in all those sins. Barbara 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. Even though the rustic cabins weren’t fancy, everyone always had the best time. Jack’s brother, Paul’s family, and their dear family friends, the Likely family, would often join them. The highlight of the trip was that the men would stay up the entire night playing poker. Gail was afraid to go to the outhouse in the middle of the night, so she would always bring a coffee can to use as a toilet.

The family’s favorite activity was playing cards and board games. When Candi and Annette were growing up, they spent a great deal of time with Jack’s sister, Ginny, and his brother Paul’s family. Many of Gail’s favorite memories were from sitting around a table playing cards. 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.

While Jack worked for Pepsi-Cola, the couple went on several company trips to Las Vegas, NV with Jimmie and Gary Likely. Gail was always proud to tell everyone that they got to see Elvis Presley perform when he was in his prime (not when he was fat and ugly). On another trip, they were in an elevator with a tall man with dark hair. Jimmie whispered to Gail and told her that the man was Joe Namath. Because Gail did not follow football, and had no idea that he was a famous quarterback for the New York Jets, Gail said very loudly, “Who the heck is Joe Namath?” Each summer Pepsi-Cola would have company picnics at Elitch Gardens Amusement Park. Gail would sew Candi and Annette dresses or pant suits with a Pepsi product logo on it.

Because the city of Fort Collins was growing rapidly, the couple once again decided they did not like city life. They moved to Wray, CO in 1975. Jack and Gail both worked at the hardware store at Consumer’s CO-OP. She often said, “I don’t know why I work here because I do not know anything about hardware”. After a few years, Gail became the secretary at the CO-OP fertilizer plant and Jack became the General Manager. Gail had a very fun, out-going personality. She loved to dress up in outrageous clothes and costumes. While working at CO-OP, many of her coworkers formed a lip sync band and performed at company parties. Her favorite act was when she dressed up as Dolly Parton. She put balloons in her shirt and played air guitar to Alabama’s song, Mountain Music. She had many special times with her good friend, Judy. The two often dressed up as clowns with their friends Elaine and Gracie, and participated in the Wray Daze parades and other events. One year on Halloween, Judy and Gail drove around town setting hay bales on fire. She got a big kick out of knowing that no one would ever suspect two “old ladies setting things on fire.”

Every person that met Gail instantly loved her. Gail said many times that she had a small family but had a huge family of friends. She did not think you had to be related to be family. When James and Annette got married, she inherited the “Kerbs Gang “ Deb, Michael, Tim, and Sarah. She loved each member of their family as her own and loved their spouses and children when they joined the family. She spent many hours having block parties with her neighbors, Tammy, John, Debbie, Tylar, and Rylee. She cherished their time together. When Tammy moved, she became the “nosy”neighbor to Olivia, Christian, Ian, and Aidan. She loved looking out her window to see what they were doing all the time.

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 lives. Jack and Gail were soulmates, who not only loved each other fiercely, but worked side-by-side for most 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.

Gail began smoking soon after she got married. It was the “cool thing to do” and it was glamourized on TV and movies. She often talked about going to check-ups when she was pregnant with the girls and the doctor actually encouraged her to smoke and drink wine to relax her. Although she quit smoking many years ago, she developed COPD. In April of 2022, Gail fell outside a friend’s house and broke her hip. In August 2023, she fell again and broke her pelvis. She had neuropathy in her feet and arthritis in her hands. She often said, “she was just a mess” but managed to still smile through all the pain. Because of all her ailments, the once social butterfly preferred to stay in the comfort of her home. Staying home did not keep her from meeting people that became very special to her. Alea and Maria will always hold a special place in her heart.

Gail was a beautiful soul. There are so many words that can describe her personality: sweet, salty, funny, spunky, sassy, kind, loving, curious, 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.” She loved to drink “Red Beers” with her favorite beer, Keystone Light. The reason she liked Keystone Light was because no one in her family liked it, and she didn’t have to share it.

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, “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 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. She did not like to get her picture taken but loved Snapchat filters. The day before her passing, Gail got a pair of new glasses. She asked Annette to take a picture of her so she could change her Facebook profile picture. When Annette showed her the picture, she said, “Well..don’t I look cute?”

Gail adored her family. They were the reason she held on and lived. A few months ago, Annette asked Gail to tell her something that she wanted each of them to know after she was gone.

To my family: I love each one of you with all my heart. I thank God every day that he allowed me to be your mom, grandma, and great grandma. My biggest blessing in life is all of you. I love that we all can find joy in whatever we do. Always love Jesus. Do not be sad that I died. Have faith that with Jesus we will all be reunited one day.

Candi: I love how you are so courageous and independent. After high school, you drove all the way to Gunnison by yourself and never looked back. I am proud of you for being a single mom, who went out into the world and became very successful. When life gets tough, you never give up!

Annette: You are the most loyal person, I know. You love everyone and go above and beyond to make others feel special. Thank you for always taking care of me with grace and never complaining about it.

James: You remind me of my Jack. I love you like the son I never had. I will forever cherish our lunch dates. Even though my cooking was bad, you ate it and never complained.

Luke: You are the bravest person I have ever met. I worry so much about you when you are out working. I am so proud of the wonderful, loving, dad, and husband you are. You have always been a “love bug” and now you are passing that on to Aubrey.

Brooklynn: You are my best friend. I love our talks about Jesus and how you stand firm in your faith. You made me do things that I did not want to do, but I also was so happy you did. I love all of our adventures we shared together.

Kristen: You are an overcomer! I am so proud of you for going out on your own and that you are not afraid to try new things. Moving to a different state not once but twice, is so wonderful and brave. Life has knocked you down a few times, but you always get back up.

Morgan: You are never afraid to show your true self. Just like Grandma you have your own sense of style. I hope you go out in the world and follow your dreams. Do not be scared of things. Go for things with no regrets.

Parker: You have been a part of our family forever. I knew when you were 14 years old that you were Luke’s soulmate. The two of you were made for each other. You are just a wonderful person and mom.

Oneal: You were handpicked from God to take care of Brooklynn. You are a very special man and the only person who can put up with Brooklynn. I love your generous soul and that you are a man of God who stands true to their faith.

Aubrey: You are the happiest, most beautiful baby, who brings everyone such joy. You are so “snoopy” and curious. I would like to think that you got that from your GG.

To my future great grandbabies: I pray for you every day. God is watching over you and only He knows when you will join our family. I will be watching out for you in Heaven.

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 one great granddaughter, Aubrey Bracelin.

Gail died peacefully in her sleep at her home on January 22, 2026. She was not afraid of death and was excited to meet Jesus and to spend eternity with Him. Gail would often say, “I can only imagine what a wonderful day it will be when I come face to face with Jesus. Oh, what a glorious day that will be.” Gail’s journey does not end on this Earth. It is only just the beginning.