Gail Young

April 5, 1943 - July 3, 2017

GENEVA -Gail Young was born on April 5, 1943, in Cleveland, Ohio, the first of five children of Ray and Suzanne Young. She and her family were actively involved in building an iconic house in Waite Hill, Ohio, and it was there that she spent the bulk of her school years, developing an artistic sensibility that colored her life and forming friendships that lasted for decades. When her parents relocated to Romulus, New York, they settled in a large farmhouse at Nundawaga Farm, on the east side of Seneca Lake, a location that suited the water-loving, waterskiing family. While a senior at Romulus Central School, she met Frank O'Connell, from a rival Seneca County school, and they fell in love, married and had two daughters, Beth and Kim. Gail, Frank and the girls lived in Ithaca while Frank finished his Masters Degree at Cornell and Gail worked at the Cornell Law Library. The family relocated to Los Angeles, eventually settling in Box Canyon in the San Fernando Valley. Gail loved the Los Angeles vibe and lived as a canyon dweller, with her family and a succession of ponies, dogs and houseguests of every kind. In the late 1970’s, Gail moved back east and settled in Eagle Bridge, New York, where she began a long career with the U.S. Postal Service. She also founded Eagle Bridge Custom Framing, a business that gave wing to her considerable creativity and artistic talent. From Eagle Bridge she moved to White Creek, where she inhabited a hexagon house that reflected Gail’s individuality and originality.   Family later called Gail back to Geneva, New York, where she lived the remainder of her life, until she passed away on July 3, 2017. Gail enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, motorcycling, renovating and decorating a succession of one-of-kind homes, and vacationing in Abaco, Bahamas. She expressed her beliefs strongly and stood firmly by her liberal principles. Her often outspoken pronouncements on life were a source of wonder and amusement for her loved ones.   Gail is survived by her daughter Kim Davis; grandson Logan Davis; granddaughter Kacey McClellan, all of Romulus, NY; granddaughter Morgan McCrady and great grandson Brantley Chappell, of Brockville, Ontario; sister Laura Carleton; brother-in-law Allen Carleton of Duxbury, MA; brother Neil Young of Geneva; sister Marjorie Linn, of Geneva, and brother-in-law Charles Linn; nieces and nephews Megan Carleton Swartz and her husband Joseph of Boston, Benjamin Carleton and his wife Christine of Boston, Clay Young of Rochester, NY, Lucas Linn, Lauren Linn, Chloe Linn, of Geneva, Trevor Linn of Brooklyn, NY; great nieces and nephews: DJ Allson, Kellyn Pettine, Jonah Pettine, Jonathan Rodriguez, Tahleiha Linn, Uriah Linn, Jaci Linn, Kirin Linn; and family friends: Ruby and Bernie Leavitt, Bernie Helmer and Marilyn Palumbo.   Throughout her life, Gail remained close to her first husband Frank O’Connell, his wife Barbara, their son Sean and fiancée Beth Kosta, and son Mack and wife Caroline.   Gail was predeceased by her beloved daughter Lauren Beth O’Connell and her brother Craig Young.   A memorial celebration of Gail’s life will be held at 2:00pm, on Saturday, August 26, at the Pavilion at Lakeshore Landing, Romulus, NY. Memorial donations may be made to Planned Parenthood (plannedparenthood.org) or Southern Law Poverty Center (splcenter.org).