Gail Marie (Watts) Frank, 92 years old, of East Lansing, Michigan, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 16th, 2026 with family at her side. She was born on January 17th, 1932 to Guy and Eileen (Tracy) Watts in Detroit, Michigan where she grew up. After graduating from the dental hygiene program at the University of Michigan, Gail enjoyed a long, successful career as a dental hygienist. She loved caring for her patients and educating them on good oral health. She worked in the Detroit, Kalamazoo and Lansing areas, balancing her love of dental hygiene with the love of raising her four children.
At the University of Michigan, Gail met the love of her life, Joseph A. Frank, Jr., who she married in 1958. They enjoyed 68 wonderful years together until Joseph preceded her in death in June of 2026. Gail was also preceded in death by her parents and her younger brother, Howard Watts. She is survived by her four children, Timothy (Mary), Karen (Paul), Constance (Robert) and Nancy, her three grandsons, Alexander, Nicholas and Christopher and one great granddaughter, Jeannie Rose.
Gail was passionate about many activities including gardening, reading, traveling the globe with her husband, ice skating with the Ladies Silver Blades of Lansing and playing clarinet in New Horizons Band. Gail most enjoyed time with her husband and family. Her children and grandchildren will always cherish memories of sitting with Gail on the porch of the family cottage up north, overlooking the lake, enjoying conversation and coffee, often talking late into the night. Gail was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She loved people and made a positive impact on many. She will be greatly missed.
The family of Gail Frank would like to extend a special thank you to all the wonderful caregivers that took excellent care of Gail while she was at home and when she was in Memory Care at Dobie Road. Your efforts and time were impactful and greatly appreciated.
A Memorial service will be held on September 27th, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. A gathering to celebrate Gail and her husband Joseph and greet family, friends and all who knew them, will follow from 2p.m. to 5 p.m. at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home in East Lansing, MI.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy at https://www.gtrlc.org or to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org or a charity of your choice.
