Gail Leray Rolfe, 91, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother died March 2, 2024 at the Washington Veterans Home in Port Orchard, Washington.

Gail was born August 10, 1932 in Aberdeen, Washington to Homer and Dorthy Ferris. She was raised in Puyallup and graduated from Puyallup High School in 1950. While in high school she performed in the choir and musicals. She developed a love for performing. She later moved to Port Townsend where she worked as a teletype operator. Her love of music led her to perform at the USO club where she met the love of her life, Wesley Rolfe. Her boss invited Wes to watch her performance. Wes said that he knew she was the woman he wanted to marry when he saw her. Just 6 weeks later Wes proposed and they planned to marry eight months later. However, because it was during the Korean War, when he returned to base, he received orders to go to Kimpo, Korea. They moved up the wedding and married just two weeks later (September 17, 1951) in Puyallup, Washington. They honeymooned in Westport before he shipped out a week later.

While on his way home from Korea, Wes was delayed in Japan where he contracted Japanese Encephalitis. He was hospitalized in Hawaii and not expected to survive. Gail flew to Hawaii to be by his side. He survived and they learned that he also had Polio. They stayed in Hawaii for 3 months until Wes was stable and then they were transferred to Scott Field, Illinois to continue his recovery. They were told that the likelihood of them having children was very low, but against all odds, Gail became pregnant. She went on to have six healthy children. She loved to tell the story that when they were transferred she brought five children to Europe and brought six back to the U.S. They returned from Europe and lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado for several years until Wes was sent on his final deployment to Turkey.

The family moved to Puyallup and they lived there until all of the children had graduated from high school. Gail loved being a wife and mother along with volunteering at her church. She missed singing so she also joined the choir and participated in the church operettas. She went on to work full time as an accountant and she continued that work until she retired in 1994. Wes’s work moved them to Reno, Nevada and then to Anchorage, Alaska. Eventually all six of their children and their families would join them in Alaska. Gail made the decision to go back to school. She graduated from The University of Alaska Anchorage with her Bachelors in Sociology in 1991.

After retirement, Gail and Wes spent many happy years in Ocean Shores, Washington where she became active in the Associated Arts, The Jazz Society, and the friends of the library. Gail also developed a passion for gardening and went on to complete the Master Gardner training. Her dedication and propensity for volunteering led her to become the President of the Master Gardner Association. In addition to her volunteer work, she worked part time at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. She and Wes also were active in the local RV club where they traveled throughout the state.

When Wes’s disabilities made it impossible for them to stay in Ocean Shores they moved to Montesano. Gail continued her involvement in the Master Gardeners, which led her to get involved with the Grays Harbor County Fair. Gail enjoyed volunteering in a variety of jobs. She also became passionate about Dahlias and won first place at the flower show for one of her favorite Dahlias. In 2017, the Grays Harbor County Fair honored Gail for all of her volunteer work and commitment to the fair. She was the Grand Marshall in the Parade and received a commemorative plaque that she displayed proudly. In addition to her gardening, Gail continued her involvement with her church and after leaving St. Andrews Episcopal church in Aberdeen she became very involved at St. Mark’s Episcopal church in Montesano. They loved their time in Montesano, but eventually Wes needed more care than his family could provide, so in 2015 he moved to the Veterans Home in Port Orchard. They sold their home and she moved to Stafford Suites in Port Orchard to be near him. She remained in Port Orchard for the rest of her life. About a year after her beloved husband died, Gail received the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Eventually she needed more care and she too moved to the Veterans Home.

Gail loved her music, education, and gardening, but her family was and had always been the joy of her life. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Gail had a great sense of humor and her loving nature made her an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Her kindness and dedication were an inspiration to everyone she met. She loved others with her whole heart. The love she showed her family taught them what it meant to truly love others. Gail always had a smile and a kind word for everyone she talked to.

Gail loved her family and is survived by her six children: Wesley (Charlene) Rolfe Jr. of Kent, Susan Rolfe of Auburn, Nancy (Alan) Smith of Marble Falls, Texas, Steven (Katie) Rolfe of Vernel, Utah, Brenda (Jerry) Rolfe-Maloney of Elma, and Trish Rolfe of Kent; thirteen grandchildren: David Rolfe-Maloney, Justin Rolfe-Maloney, Ashley Rolfe, Yari Rolfe-Maloney, Brynn Wiens, Dylan Simons, Lynnrae Smith, Jessica Rolfe, Olivia Rolfe, Amanda Whimple, Emily Nelsen, Michelle Franklin and Laura Rhodes; ten great-grandchildren Trevor, Noah, Aleta, Turner, Becket, Jaxson, Carson, Aiden, Dassen and Rylie; and one sister: Dorothy Mae Greenly, Shelton, Washington. Gail was preceded in death her beloved husband Wesley Rolfe, her parents Dorothy and Homer Ferris and her sister Barbara McGalis.

A celebration of Gail’s life will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Montesano, Washington on Saturday, May 11th at 2 p.m. with Father Dale McQueen officiating, and a reception to follow. Her ashes along with her husband’s will be interned in a private ceremony at the Tahoma National Cemetery.

A message of condolence or a memory may be sent to the family in care of blrmy@comcast.net. Because Gail believed education was so important and encouraged all of her children to get an education, in lieu of flowers, consider honoring the memory of Gail Rolfe by contributing to the Gail Rolfe Memorial Scholarship through the Grays Harbor College Foundation. You can make your donation conveniently online at www.ghc.edu/give or by sending a check to the GHC Foundation at 1620 Edward P. Smith Dr, Aberdeen, WA 98520. Your support will help deserving students pursue their educational dreams in Gail’s honor.