Gail Edna Hirschi Raymond

Gail Edna Hirschi Raymond returned to the loving arms of her Heavenly Father on November 21, 2007. Gail was born on March 22, 1919, in Kilgore, Idaho, to David Jr. and Hedwig Aldehoff Hirschi the 2nd of 4 children. She attended school in Kilgore and Spencer, Idaho and graduated from Ricks College with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught school for a time in the Newdale and Menan Elementary schools. She met Leon R Raymond while he was cutting timber in Kilgore. They were married on June 14, 1939 in the Logan, Utah LDS temple. In 1953 Leon and Gail moved to the Bitterroot Valley first settling in Victor, MT and later moving to Corvallis, MT where they spent the rest of their years together. Leon passed away in 1996. Gail loved her family. They were always the most important thing in her life. She was a born educator. She loved to read and to learn new things. She encouraged her children to do their best and to learn from their experiences. She tutored many struggling youth so they could progress with their education. She loved music. She sang in the ward choir for years and enjoyed playing the piano until arthritis in her hands made it so she couldn’t. Gail loved everyone and was often found quietly performing a needed service for those around her. Gail served in many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ. She especially enjoyed teaching the youth in Primary. She served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with her husband Leon, in the Chile, Santiago South Mission from 1983-1984. She learned to love the Chilean people and came home with a greater appreciation of the blessings we enjoy in this country. She is survived by her children John (Mary Ella) Raymond of Corvallis, MT; Nancy (Sherman) Wigle of Petersburg, Alaska; Paul (Connie) Raymond of Nampa, ID; Mark (Sherry) Raymond of Wisdom, MT; LeAnn (Kelly) Ryan of Dayton, ID; Linnae (Steve) Allensworth of Gardnerville, NV; and Dalene (Dennis) Normand of Frenchtown, MT; her brother David Hirschi Jr. of Salem, ID; 30 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leon; a son Bart Rae; grandson, Charles; and two sisters, Helen Parmer and Dora Harris. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at the Menan LDS Church on Main Street, Menan, Idaho. Family and friends may call from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. Tuesday. Interment will be at the Little Butte Cemetery in Menan, Idaho. To celebrate Gail’s love of children and reading, a memorial fund has been set up and will be used to buy books for children. The family suggests contributions to this fund in lieu of flowers. Donations can be sent to the Gail Raymond Memorial Fund, in care of Clark Fork Valley Bank, P.O. Box 537, Frenchtown, MT 59834.