Gail Aldred

Longtime Rock Springs resident Gail Aldred, 77, passed away peacefully in her home on January 18, 2022, surrounded by her loving husband and children after an extended illness.

Gail Lee Clark was born on July 13, 1944, in Rock Springs, Wyoming to Harold Graham and Margaret Mae (Vercic) Clark. Like many children her age who grew up in Sweetwater County, Gail was a coal camp kid, spending her formative years in both Winton and Reliance, before settling in Rock Springs. She graduated from Rock Springs High School in 1962.

During high school, Gail worked alongside her lifelong friend, and fellow coal camp kid, Karen, at the Five Star Drive-In in Rock Springs. After high school, Gail spent one year in nursing school at St. Luke's in Denver, before returning to Rock Springs to help care for her ailing mother. She got a job at Foster's Lumber, where she met the love of her life, David Aldred.

Dave and Gail were married on July 12, 1969, at the Holy Communion Episcopal Church of Rock Springs. Two years later, the loving couple welcomed a son, Jason Clark. Three years after that, they were blessed with a daughter, Amy Elizabeth.

Gail was employed by the Wyoming Department of Transportation for twenty-eight years before retiring in 2007. As a data controller and payroll clerk, she was working daily on a computer before many people even knew what one was. She was very proud of her years working for the State of Wyoming.

Gail was involved in several organizations, including the Women's Club of Rock Springs, the Red Hat Society, the Sweetwater Democrats, Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA) and the Wyoming Public Employees Association. She was also very active with the Rock Springs Swim Club and Wyoming Swimming, dedicating her time and energy to support her children's athletic endeavors. Gail was a member of the Holy Communion Episcopal Church.

When she wasn't working or supporting local organizations, Gail loved to travel to spend time with aunts and uncles throughout the western United States. In her later years, her travels nearly always involved visiting her children, as well as her granddaughters Izzy and Margo, whom she adored.

Gail was an avid sports fan and loved to join football pools. She was a member of the Cowboy Joe club, and up until a few years ago, she and Dave would make an annual fall trip to Laramie to watch the Pokes play. She religiously followed the Utah Jazz, making sure to never miss a game on television. She was a loyal Denver Broncos fan, up until a few years ago, when her allegiances seemed to shift towards upstate New York.

Gail loved music, especially Neil Diamond and ABBA. On Saturday mornings, before Wyoming kicked off, you could hear music piping throughout the house, sometimes on CD, but often on 8-track.

Any time Gail was parked in front of the television, or in an airport, or in a car on a long trip, you would likely find knitting needles in her hands. She loved making hats for friends and family, or for the Women's Club. But more than that, she was known for her sweaters, which she proudly made for friends, family, multiple governors, and at least two legendary college basketball coaches.

Gail is survived, and will be severely missed, by her devoted husband of 52 years, David Aldred, her amazing children Jason Aldred and Amy (Andrew) Tollefson, her incredible granddaughters, Isabella Grace and Margaret Elizabeth Tollefson, her nephew Robbie Aldred and family, her niece Mary Ann Cook and family, her niece Linda Cole and family (Not sure about Linda's last name), and her nephew, Richard Shumate. She was preceded in death by her parents Harold and Margaret Clark, her sister and brother-in-law Audrey and Bob Shumate, her mother-in-law Ethel Aldred, father-in-law Fred Aldred, brother-in-law Robert Aldred, sister-in-law Sylvia Aldred, and her nephew Roger Shumate, along with several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Services will be held on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at 11:00 AM at the Holy Communion Episcopal Church in Rock Springs Wyoming.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Rocky Mountain Care Foundation, 576 West 900 South, Suite 103, Woods Cross, UT 84010, or at http://rockymountaincarefoundation.org/, in a show of gratitude to Nurse Sheridan, patient coordinator Erin, and other staff for being amazing health providers, advocates, and caretakers to both Gail and Dave.

Condolences may be left at http://www.vasefuneralhomes.co.

 

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