Gail Sommers

Gail Sommers, of Rigby, Idaho died Thursday, January 22, 2004 at the Idaho Falls Care Center. He was born October 14, 1926 in San Bernadino, California, to Samuel Sommers Sr. and Grace Estella Rock Sommers. At the age of four his family moved to Idaho. He attended school at Hibbard, Idaho near Rexburg. At the age of seventeen he joined the U.S. Navy and served from October 1943 until his honorable discharge in October of 1947. He served in the Philippine Liberation Campaign and was in the Philippines when General Douglas MacArthur returned to defeat the Japanese. He married his sweetheart, Mila Jean Freeman on May 30, 1948 at Lyman, Idaho. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on October 26, 1990. They have been married 56 years. Gail worked in the construction trades plastering and tile setting for many years. He also was Deputy Sheriff of Madison County for several years. Gail was a qualified pilot and love to fly. He loved the water, the outdoors and he enjoyed fishing, boating, swimming, traveling and his family. He is survived by his wife, Mila Jean Sommers of Rigby, Idaho. A daughter, Connie Jean (Bruce) Scott of Ucon, Idaho. A son, Richard Gail Sommers of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. A brother, Samuel Sommers of Idaho Falls, Idaho and a sister, Dorothy Martinez of Kelseyville, California. Funeral services will be held Monday, January 26, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. in the Rigby East Stake Center (4021 East 300 North, Rigby, Idaho.) The family will meet with friends on Sunday, January 25, 2004 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Eckersell Memorial Chapel (101 W. Main, Rigby) and on Monday, January 26, 2004 at the Rigby East Stake Center from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Burial will be in the Rigby Pioneer Cemetery under the direction of Eckersell Funeral Home.