Gail Carkin
RICHMOND - Gail E. Carkin died on July 31, 2017 on her 81st birthday.
She graduated valedictorian from Richmond High School where she played clarinet and trumpet in the band. She became a Seventh Day Adventist after high school and frequently played the piano and organ at church. In 1958 she graduated from Atlantic Union College with a BA in nutrition. She married Merrill Carkin on June 8, 1958 and they lived in Richmond for most of their lives.
Gail’s reputation as a natural salesperson began in high school when she would compete to always be the top seller for any fund raising event. She went on to combine her interests in sales and nutrition when she opened a store out of her own home called Jenny-Jo’s Health Foods which specialized in vegetarian food.
She later went on to become a Tupperware manager which she did for many years. Always the saleslady, she was handing out catalogs right until her death.
She was a lover of all animals, especially her cats. If any of her neighbors wondered where their pets were they often would find out they had gone to Gail’s house to be fed on her doorstep.
She was an very much an extrovert and loved talking to people. Her four children have many painful memories of having to stand and wait while Gail had a conversation with a complete stranger.
Gail was predeceased by her husband Merrill and her older brother Robert Stuber.
She is survived by her four children, Peter of Fitchburg, Mass., Joline Carkin-Mejia and her husband, Mike, of Clinton, Mass., Jennifer Hall and her husband, Eric, of Casco, and Patrick and his wife Deana of Milford, N.H.; sister Sandra White and her husband, Alan, of Richmond and Cape Coral, nine grandchildren, Joshua, Erika and Mike Mejia; Brandon, Kate, and Camron Hall; Marley Carkin; Matthew and Sarah Blake; and one great-grandchild, Tristan Cedeno.
Visiting hours will be from 11am to 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, at Kincer Funeral Home, 130 Pleasant St., Richmond. A private graveside service for family members will follow. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Kennebec Valley Humane Society, 10 Pet Haven Lane, Augusta, ME 04330.