Dedicated church volunteer and avid gardener made therapy visits at the UVM Medical Center with her beloved dog, Polar
Gail Elaine Spencer, 82, wife of Malcolm Myers Spencer for 55 years, passed away at her home as she wanted, truly in peace, on June 30, 2024. Her battle with depression coupled with Parkinson’s disease no longer has a hold on her body and spirit. This is where the family has found the most comfort, as she slipped away over these last three years. Gail was born on October 5, 1941, in Colchester, Vt., to Thelma and Curtis Echo. She attended Burlington High School and was a part of the cheerleading team, graduating in 1959. She went on to graduate from Champlain College with an associate’s degree as a medical secretary. She worked at the University of Vermont in the community medicine department, headed by Dr. Charles Houston. It was there that she met Malcolm, who asked her out as he was registering for classes at UVM, and where she worked with his mother, Mary — having heard firsthand stories of her son. From there it was history, and they wed on August 17, 1968. She then played the most important role as a stay-at-home mom to raise her two children. As they grew older, she went to work at the Essex Town superintendent’s office as its bookkeeper. She volunteered at St. Pius X Parish teaching catechism and in later years was also a eucharistic minister, visiting homes to offer communion to those who were ill. She also volunteered with her most beloved dog, Polar, providing therapy to both the psychiatric ward and pediatric department at the UVM Medical Center. Gail and Polar were favorite visitors as well at the Thomas Fleming School in Essex Junction, where they worked and provided reading support to students in the special education department. She was without a doubt the best listener and such a support to so many, helping others, as evident in her volunteer work and through the experiences and struggles she herself endured. She was an avid gardener, with the greatest green thumb, competing on occasion in the Champlain Valley Fair with her masterpiece bouquets straight from the backyard. Being able to garden was something she loved so much and where she found peace. She could do it for hours and thoroughly missed it right up to the end. Gail is survived by her husband, Malcolm Myers Spencer; children, Mark Spencer and Sarah Carroll (Chris); granddaughter, Penelope “Poppy” Anne Carroll;…
Dedicated church volunteer and avid gardener made therapy visits at the UVM Medical Center with her beloved dog, Polar
Gail Elaine Spencer, 82, wife of Malcolm Myers Spencer for 55 years, passed away at her home as she wanted, truly in peace, on June 30, 2024. Her battle with depression coupled with Parkinson’s disease no longer has a hold on her body and spirit. This is where the family has found the most comfort, as she slipped away over these last three years. Gail was born on October 5, 1941, in Colchester, Vt., to Thelma and Curtis Echo. She attended Burlington High School and was a part of the cheerleading team, graduating in 1959. She went on to graduate from Champlain College with an associate’s degree as a medical secretary. She worked at the University of Vermont in the community medicine department, headed by Dr. Charles Houston. It was there that she met Malcolm, who asked her out as he was registering for classes at UVM, and where she worked with his mother, Mary — having heard firsthand stories of her son. From there it was history, and they wed on August 17, 1968. She then played the most important role as a stay-at-home mom to raise her two children. As they grew older, she went to work at the Essex Town superintendent’s office as its bookkeeper. She volunteered at St. Pius X Parish teaching catechism and in later years was also a eucharistic minister, visiting homes to offer communion to those who were ill. She also volunteered with her most beloved dog, Polar, providing therapy to both the psychiatric ward and pediatric department at the UVM Medical Center. Gail and Polar were favorite visitors as well at the Thomas Fleming School in Essex Junction, where they worked and provided reading support to students in the special education department. She was without a doubt the best listener and such a support to so many, helping others, as evident in her volunteer work and through the experiences and struggles she herself endured. She was an avid gardener, with the greatest green thumb, competing on occasion in the Champlain Valley Fair with her masterpiece bouquets straight from the backyard. Being able to garden was something she loved so much and where she found peace. She could do it for hours and thoroughly missed it right up to the end. Gail is survived by her husband, Malcolm Myers Spencer; children, Mark Spencer and Sarah Carroll (Chris); granddaughter, Penelope “Poppy” Anne Carroll;…
