Celebration of Life
for GAIL ERICKSON
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Sunday, October 15
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3pm • Service at Jackson Community Church
4pm • Reception at Shannon Door

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association and/or The Mount Washington Valley Adult Day Care.

GAIL LOUISE ERICKSON  (1952 – 2023)

From Gail’s family: Gail Louise Erickson of Madison, NH passed away peacefully on September 11,2023, at the age of 71, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Gail was born in Boston on July 6, 1952, the daughter of the late Edgar and Helen (Erickson) Doughty. She was the youngest of three daughters and attended the Boston Public School System.
Gail started working at a young age ultimately to purchase her first car, a Volvo PV 544. Her love of cars would continue throughout her lifetime. She was a good driver who claimed to be a fast driver yet somehow always managed to arrive late.
Gail married Brian Kelly in 1974. After spending a brief time in Massachusetts, they moved to Jackson NH. They lived a rugged life of heating with wood and often dealing with frozen pipes. Hauling water from the river became a daily ritual. Gail got a job as the bar manager at the Wildcat Tavern where she used her gift of gab to make customers feel comfortable and welcome. One such couple was Jeanne and Dave Mason who would become lifelong friends. Not only was Gail providing food and libations to customers, but she got her realtor license so that she could sell them a house. Some of her friends wanted to get married so Gail became a Justice of the Peace to meet their needs. On many occasions over the years, Gail would be approached by happy homeowners or couples thanking her for her services.
Throughout Gail’s time in the valley, she was an avid skier. One day while skiing at Wildcat she was approached by Al Risch who offered her a helicopter ride to the top of Mount Washington. Always up for an adventure, Gail became one of a select few to ski Tuckerman’s Ravine via a helicopter.
Gail married Bruce Gerrish in 1989. Bruce was a skilled equestrian, and they accepted a job working on a ranch in Wyoming. Unknown to them at the time the ranch was owned by Sharon Disney, Walt Disney’s daughter. Sharon was very generous and let them stay in the big house instead of the guest house. The ranch with the Teton Mountains as a backdrop became a vacation destination for many friends from the east.
Gail’s next move was to horse country in Virginia, then back to the Mount Washington Valley where she worked for Badger Real Estate. After a few years in the Valley, she moved to Falmouth Maine where, sadly, the first signs of early onset Alzheimer’s appeared at age 62.
Gail’s niece Joanne Turner realized that Gail was having a difficult time living on her own, so she graciously offered her a room in her house in Bartlett NH. The package deal also included Gail’s true love Brody, a 95-pound yellow lab. He is big, gentle and full of love and fur. Gail and Brody could be found on trails and in swimming holes throughout the Valley. She let her realtor license go but kept busy with seasonal jobs.
Gail met Doug Haver in the fall of 2017 and their life of adventures together began. First a trip to Hawaii to knock surfing off the bucket list. Gail was always up for a hike, motorcycle ride, or skiing with friends. Her great sense of humor was just what was needed when her car would get lost in the parking lot while she was shopping for clothes. Luckily, she was able to continue skiing, relying on 50 years of muscle memory.
As the Alzheimer’s progressed the Mount Washington Valley Adult Day Care was invaluable for providing social activities and much needed respite. In her last months, the Merriman House became her home. Gail would spend her days chatting with the patients and staff and walked many a mile. The care and compassion that they provided was extraordinary.
She will be dearly missed by her surviving boyfriend Douglas Haver of Madison, NH; her sister Carol Fraser and husband Donald of Foxborough, MA; sister Donna Hebert and husband Brian of Pinson, AL; nieces Christine Green, Barbara Tetreault, Joanne Turner, Elaine Fanning, and Erica Bertrand; nephew James Fraser and many great nieces and nephews. Gail was predeceased by her mother Helen and stepfather Edward McGillaway. Gail leaves behind her love for her loyal dogs Brody and Corey (predeceased)
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association and/or The Mount Washington Valley Adult Day Care.