Gail Elizabeth Lalas-Smith

Gail was born in Cuthbert, Georgia to Themual and Sara Lalas. She is the second of five children. She was four years old when the family relocated to Pensacola where she resided for the remainder of her life. She graduated from Pensacola High School in 1956 and married Don George Cooey (deceased) and has three daughters, Debra Alexakos, Donna (Steve) Davis and Lisa (Luis) Arredondo. She later married Carl Dewey Smith Jr. (deceased). They lived off Chemstrand Road in Gonzalez, Florida for many years. In 2000, she retired from Sacred Heart Hospital as a Medical Secretary on St. Vincent. In 2014 she moved to AHEPA #296 Apartments where she has many close friends. She is a member of Pensacola Baptist Temple but also attended Smyrna Baptist Church for many years.

She is proceeded in death by her parents and husband, a sister Winnie Carol Lalas-May and a brother Mitch Lalas.

She is survived by her three daughters, and brothers Joel Lalas and Billy (Becky) Lalas and many nieces and nephews. Gail is the proud Grandmother of Rachel Davis, Amanda (Hector) Toledo-Gonzalez, Beka (Chris) Jenkins, Auna Arrendondo, Jayden Arrendondo and Great Grandmother to Kyla Easterwood, Tyson Easterwood, Mela Toledo-Gonzalez, Dezi Toledo-Gonzalez and Jack Jenkins.

A special thank you to all her many friends at Ahepa Apartments who took it upon themselves to watch over and bring her meals, her best friend Judy Cardwell, who I am certain worked more hours than she was actually compensated for, and to Mary from Council on Aging who encouraged her to get out of her apartment daily, Alfred Nicholi of United Hearing Center for his contribution to her hearing in her last few months and to her Vitas Hospice Home Nurse, D. J. Frank who went above and beyond to care for her.

Pastor Kenneth Ralph of Pensacola Baptist Temple will conduct the Memorial Service.

Visitation will be held at Eastern Gate Memorial Funeral Home, 1985 West Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, FL 325349377, US, on August 17, 2026, from 10:30 am to 11:00 am.

A Funeral Service will follow at Eastern Gate Memorial Funeral Home, 1985 West Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, FL 325349377, US, on August 17, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.

A Committal Service will take place at Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens, 1985 West Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, FL 325349377, US, on August 17, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm.