James Walter Gale

1936 - 2024

April 29, 2024 by Jamie

Yesterday,, our family lost our Uncle James Gale.  He joins his wife, our Aunt Sarah, just 4 days after her passing.  They married in 1958, when she was 18 and he was 21.  While it is overwhelmingly sad for their children and our extended family, maybe there is some peace in knowing they are together.  When he first started dating Sarah, he asked his father how he could win over her very protective father.  My grandfather was very strict on his daughters and did not want them dating.  His father told him to learn all about cotton farming since that was her father’s occupation.  He did just that and won her father over while discussing cotton and walking the fields with him.  Still, they ran off to Vegas to get married.

Since they lived in Flagstaff, we didn’t see them that often.  However, I did call on him to rescue me and my friend when on a trip to Flagstaff to see my sister.  My car overheated because I was dumb and thought you needed to drive in low gear in mountains.  Well, turns out not when you are driving at high speeds. I was young. lol  Fortunately, I knew he had a wrecker business and he towed my car.  He was so nice and didn’t even tell me I was stupid.

Last year, at our last reunion, I sat with him and talked for quite some time.  He told me about his memories when I was a child and more.  It was so wonderful to get to know him a little more and left me so happy.  My regret is not knowing him better. I will miss him.

My love and hugs to all his family.  This is truly heartbreaking.

From the Memorial Service: