Marilyn Gail was born Feb. 29th, 1936 in a little town in central California to Edward and Menga Stockton. She passed out of this world and into eternity on June 10th of this year. I grew up knowing her as Aunt Gail; but technically she was the aunt of my mother. A remarkable lady, she will be missed though I know that she and Uncle Ray and their eldest daughter are at this moment in the presence of the LORD rejoicing together. In saying goodbye I am choosing to share a few things about her to try to paint a picture of the kind of person she was.
Aunt Gail was one of 5 children. She had two sisters and two brothers. Her family grew up poor and the little house they lived in had once been two separate cabins, enclosed over time, along with four additions, into a single structure. They gardened and were frugal with their resources to make ends meet.
With a dry sense of humor and a parsimony with words fitting of Beatrix Potter, she was plodding, stoic, and, to me, I thought rarely laughed, but she apparently did laugh at anything truly laughable. She was not cold but sober, practical and direct in her interactions with others. She was a strong woman full of quiet steel that came through in her actions and manners. Unlike all the strong-woman wannabees today, she wasn’t harsh or brash and Christ filled her heart with genuine softness and kindness to others. She was a joy to be around.
Growing up, Aunt Gail had an athletic competitive streak and loved to play tennis. It is said that she beat all the women tennis players in the little town where she grew up and then proceeded to beat all the men tennis players there as well. (Later she emphasized to her children the importance of essentially being able to win humbly and being able to lose with grace.)
She met my uncle Ray when he was studying at a local university in the mid-1950’s. Since the university was not a healthy environment, her parents made a habit of inviting him over on the weekends for Christian fellowship. One day Uncle Ray called to see if he could come to see Aunt Gail. She coolly informed him that she had other plans that afternoon: picking up a load of manure for the family garden. If he wanted, he could come along. To her surprise, he took her up on the offer and that was the beginning of a strong friendship and subsequent marriage that lasted over six decades. God blessed them with five children, all walking with the LORD and too many grandchildren and great grandchildren to count. My uncle loved and respected her and while he ably ruled his house, he valued her opinion on various matters. They loved each other and old age confirmed that reality. I still recall my uncle almost literally glowing next to her at a lunch gathering about a dozen years ago. My cousin said that after my uncle passed (about a year ago), my aunt had fun and good times but never really lived again after that. She was ready to go home.
Aunt Gail was a godly woman, beautiful inside and out. Her strength was Jesus Christ. This was evident by observing her life and interactions with others. She was the best kind of Gospel witness – a living epistle written before men; manifesting the face of Christ in an earthen vessel. The sayings and quotes added over the years to the front and back pages of her bible bear testimony to the sweet kind of character and woman that she was:
“My work at home lies with the olive branches – my task is there
To train them for the Heavenly Garden – needs all my care
I may not in the woods or on the mountain – seek thy lost sheep
At home a little flock of tender lambskins – are mine to keep
T’will be much, if when my task is ended – through grace from Thee
I give thee back undimmed, the radiant jewels – Thou gavest me.”
Examine half-truths carefully – You may have gotten the wrong half.
The most highly flamable kind of wood is: The chip on the shoulder.
We need to get our guidance & direction from the Star – Not from some passing ship.
Christianity = God reaching down to man
All other religions = Man trying to reach up to God
I have a treasure which I prize – It’s like, I cannot find
There’s nothing like it on the earth – tis this, a quiet mind.
The most exhausting thing in the world is being insincere.
Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal.
Men hold opinions – Convictions hold men.
Man says: seeing is believing
God says: believing is seeing.
She was the embodiment of many of these sayings both in style and substance. Reading them reminds me of her dry sense of wit and personality.
Although it wasn’t a whole lot, I am thankful for all the times I was able to spend with her and Uncle Ray over the years. They have been a godly encouragement to me and a model for life over the years in my walk with the Lord. I feel blest that I was able to know them and look forward to one day seeing them again in heaven.
Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of the plaiting the hair, and of wearing gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
1st Pet. 3:3-4
