Gail Beason

Gail Beason, who passed away on Wednesday, Sept 9th, was born Sept 25, 1934 in Groom, Texas to her parents, Tom and Viola Rogers. At an early age, the family relocated to the Red River Valley area in Oklahoma. As part of the Dust Bowl migration, the entire family moved to Southern California in the late 1930’s where her parents, and older siblings, began working in the orange groves surrounding Long Beach.

During her school years in Long Beach, she met a neighbor that attended her school, Kathy Kazarian. Despite two personalities that could not have been more different, the two established a remarkable friendship that would last for more than 70 years.

Gail moved to Fresno in 1958 where she was to raise her four children. Always active in her children’s lives, she was a member of three PTA organizations, the local Toastmistresses Club, and (one of her true joys) a Campfire Girl leader. She was very proud to be a lifelong member of the Embers Lunch Bunch. A group of former Campfire Girl leaders which remains active to this day.

She found her first calling in 1968 when she became a Nurse’s Aide at the old St Agnes Hospital. She was a born caregiver and a fierce advocate for every patient she was assigned to. In the early 1980’s, at perhaps the lowest point in her life, she did something truly remarkable. After a year in which she lost her youngest daughter in an automobile accident and went through a difficult divorce, she returned to school at Fresno City College. With the encouragement and support of St Agnes, she graduated from the LVN program. She immediately returned to FCC entering the RN program and, after 26 years of service with St Agnes, she retired as a Registered Nurse.

She intended to return to work part-time after retirement, but never found the time due to her second calling, being a grandmother. She was quite simply too busy enjoying her grandchildren, and later her great-grandchildren, to return to work.

Gail was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Jorja and Peggy Kuhn, her brother Ralph Rogers, her eldest daughter Karen Vernon Bowden, and her youngest child Marjorie Terrell. She is survived by her sons Daniel Harbour and Brian Beason, her ten grandchildren, and her 11 great-grandchildren.

Per Gail’s request, no formal services will be held. In honor of a special mother and friend, a Celebration of Life will be held in the near future. Special thanks to St Agnes Hospice and Clovis Quality Care for their kind guidance and assistance. Remembrances may be sent to St Agnes Hospice.