Gail Spidle

Gail G. Spidle, a prominent Albuquerque theatrical personality and faithful church leader, died Sunday evening, November 16. She was 88 years old. She leaves behind her husband, Jake W. Spidle and two children Brian G. Besson of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and her daughter Mary Lynn Gross (husband Stephen) of Albuquerque and her four stepchildren: Cindy Foss of Augusta, GA; Christopher P. Spidle of Calgary, Alberta; Susan Spidle Dicks (husband Joel) of Sherwood, OR; and Joseph A. Spidle of San Diego, CA. She was also the proud grandmother of six much loved grandchildren Nichole Williams of Waxahatchie, TX; Rachel Summy and Chase Foss of Augusta; Hannah Gail Todd (husband Joseph) of Hampton, VA; and Joshua E. Dicks and Ryan E. Dicks of Sherwood, OR; and two great-granddaughters Paisley Brown of Waxahatchie and Lily Gail Todd of Hampton.

Gail was born and reared in Augusta, Georgia, and educated in its public schools. She first attended higher education at Lander University, Greenwood, South Carolina, and received her baccalaureate at the University of North Carolina Asheville. She came to Albuquerque in 1983 as the wife of Richard Gillock, chief administrative officer of Lovelace Hospital, who pre-deceased her. At the University of New Mexico she took graduate work in sociology and participated in the university's Agora program, working especially with battered women. That commitment remained a part of her life's work for the rest of her life.

For several decades Gail was actively involved in the community theater life of Albuquerque, both on the stage and behind the scenes. Her involvement in community theater traced back to her Augusta roots, but her theater life blossomed in Albuquerque. On stage she played principal roles in the productions of the Vortex Theater, the AuxDog, the Desert Rose playhouse, and the North 4* Arts Center, among others, but she was most active in the life and artistry of the now sixty-year-old Adobe Theater. She played leading roles in The Savannah Sipping Society; Twelve Angry Jurors; Rapture Blister Burn; and Love, Loss, and What / Wore, among others. Off stage she wore many hats as stage manager, costumier, and other support services, and for many years she was on the board of directors of the Adobe Theater, including serving as longtime Secretary of the board.

Gail also served her community and a larger family through her extensive service over four decades at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. Her creative gifts and "sweat equity" helped shape much of the worship and service of her church through her forty years' membership within it. From meal preparation and hands-on labor within the church's church Deacon, Elder on the church's Session, and several years as Clerk of Session, Gail gave of her time and talents to this institution she so loved. A memorial service for Gail is scheduled for Saturday, December 6 at 10 a.m. at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 5301 Ponderosa Avenue NE with a reception following. The family wishes to thank the physicians and staff of the New Mexico Cancer Center, especially Drs. Francesco Standoli and Kara Bucci, for their loving care of Gail, as well as Home Care Assistance (with thanks in particular to Ammi Van and Tabitha Clark) and Bosque Trails Hospice (especially Tasha Hosack and Hayley Hendricks). In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Gail's memory to the work of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church or the Rio Grande Food Project.