Posted on 04/21/2025

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Gail Kathleen Houser, our beloved mother, passed away on April 6, 2025 after years of battling Parkinson's Disease and related dementia. Gail was born on December 13, 1954 to Donald and Johnnie Keen in Sacramento, CA. The family moved to West Sacramento soon after where Gail was raised and resided until her death. After graduating from James Marshall High School in 1973, she married and started her family. In 1985 she started her career with the Department of Insurance where she retired as a manager over the Licensing Bureau. Her co-workers have described her as dedicated, dependable, professional, and always fair. Gail was predeceased by her mother, Johnnie in 2001, her brother Ronald and father Donald, both in 2014. She is survived by her son Gregory and partner Jennifer; daughter Katie and husband Kenneth; son Steven and wife Christina; daughter Kelsey and partner Rob; son Nick and wife Katie; son (in every way) Russel and wife Jamie; son-in-law Clint; daughter-in-law Lisa; sister Donna and husband Gary; sister Polly and husband Bart; grandchildren Chloe, Colby, Kylie, Alex, Zoey, Avah, Eden, Nolan, Joshua, Abigail, Brady, Keira, Grace, Roman, and Reginald. She also leaves behind a large and supportive village of nieces, nephews and cousins and many lifetime friends. Gail was vibrant. She loved to laugh and pull pranks and did both often. Her laughter was contagious. She lived and loved with her whole heart and always found something to love in everyone. She had the ability to look back on a rough day and find something to turn it into a best day. She was an example of how we should live our lives present in the moment and how we should aim to make every day the best day ever, ultimately leading to a best life ever. Gail was adventurous. She loved to bowl, hike and travel and did these things often. Hiking with Gail was never dull, always an adventure, and always uphill. Both ways. Getting lost, whether hiking or traveling was a given and simply added to any experience. You knew what you were getting into when you said "yes." Gail was brave. She did the activities she loved for years while valiantly battling Parkinson's. When she was first diagnosed, she allowed herself the weekend to feel sorry for herself and then she determined to continue to live life fully and face whatever was to come head-on. And she did. Gail was also selfless, kind, courageous, generous, beautiful, inspirational, loving, and funny. These are not just words; these qualities were evident the moment she entered your life. You knew immediately you had met a friend. Gail's greatest joys were her children and grandchildren. If you were to ask any one of them who was her favorite, each one would say they were. And they'd be right. To fully understand Gail -- even as her health significantly declined, and she knew she'd been dealt a tough hand, she declared "Best Life Ever." We will miss and love her forever. Celebration of Life information is available by contacting Katie at: KDURHAM1101@GMAIL.COM In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Parkinson's Foundation