GAIL SCARBOROUGH

On November 22, 2022, Gail Eileen Scarborough passed on from respiratory failure and related natural causes. She passed away in the company of her daughter, Gail Scarborough Creech, at Medical City Hospital in Arlington, TX. 

Gail Scarborough was 85 years old. She lived a full and joyful life, even during times of deprivation. She believed in intentionally focusing on the good things in life. She held onto Philippians 4:8, which says: "Whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

She recently took to reading Psalm 100, which says: "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord...Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise." 

Also, throughout her life, she often quoted the scripture that says: to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. 

HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS

As Scarborough grew up in San Antonio, TX, with her father, mother, grandmother, three brothers, and her sister. Her father was the captain of the dredgeboat that "brought the sea to Brownsville," and her mother worked at Kelly Air Force Base, as a technical data librarian. 

Together, the family owned and managed a trailer park on Gardina street for many years. She often told her daughter stories about how they used to graze their cow, Bossy, in the fields across the street that had become a shopping center. 

Ms. Scarborough graduated from Edison High School, then got a Bachelor's Degree in pre-med and bacteriology from UT Austin. 

She later got her Master's Degree from St. Mary's University. 

She married a physician, Phillip Creech, and used her microbiology skills to assist him as he practiced medicine all over the country, including in some Native American Reservations. She spoke fondly of the beauty of the land and people there, and also of their travels to the Caribbean where they camped. After too many nail-biting adventures to recount, they settled in the Carolinas, where Philip opened a practice, and Gail gave birth to her only daughter. In 1982, she returned with her daughter to her hometown of San Antonio. 

Years later, she got a lifetime teaching certification for biology and chemistry. She taught science at Leal Middle School in the Harlandale ISD for 2 years. Later, she taught a course at San Antonio college, and another course at UTSA. During these years there were many good times and struggles, but, with God's help, she and her daughter always got over the obstacles life put in their way, together. 

HER CHARACTER

One of her most ever-present and cherished qualities was her quiet, gentle, peaceful, patient, agreeable, unobtrusive, and mild-mannered spirit. She had a razor-sharp mind, full of humor and wit, but with a peace-loving nature that didn't seek conflict, or seek to cut anybody down, but rather just loved peace and tranquility. It was easy to spend hours with her, not saying more than a word or two, in a pleasant, fulfilling state of calm. 

She was good at making people feel valued. It always surprised her daughter when mechanics or therapists went out of their way to help her for free, or at a discount, and to find a way to see her again, because she had made them feel appreciated. From her point of view, it was impolite to disagree, because: "If you dispute someone's word, you're calling them a liar." She came from the tradition that teaches: "If you can't think of something nice to say, don't say anything at all." 

She also had compassion for people who were having a hard time, and she tried to help people when she could, even at times when she and her family were in need.

THINGS SHE LOVED

Since her father had traveled around the Gulf of Mexico in the dredgeboat, she and her siblings spent many fun, childhood days playing at the beach, so she always loved the beach. She loved most outdoor activities, and traveling in general. The bumper sticker "I'd rather be traveling," or "I'd rather be at the beach," truly applied to her.   

Ms. Scarborough liked jazz. She loved listening to the Jim Cullen Jazz Band on the Riverwalk at The Landing, and enjoyed taking her daughter to eat on the Riverwalk at Casa Rio. It was something of a tradition. 

Gail played the piano beautifully, although she always humbly said, "I don't play every note; I just play by the chords." Anyone who heard her play, however, knew she was a fantastic pianist. She took up the hobby of sewing in middle age and continued to enjoy sewing by hand for as long as she could do it. 

She also loved to dance! She was so skillful at ballroom dancing that when she finished a class, they offered to make her an instructor.  Even later in life, she loved watching dancing and figure skating on TV. 

Shortly after graduating college, she was able to take a tour of Europe, and then a tour of the United States, both with her little sister Lena Scarborough Ostberg. She always looked back fondly on those memories. 

She also always looked back fondly on the many memories she was able to make with her own child. She and her daughter truly enjoyed one another's company. She will be missed and always loved. Her duty on earth is finished, and she did it well, with enviable dignity. With beautiful grace. 

She is survived by her daughter, Gail Scarborough Creech. 

She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, their children, and their grandchildren. 

She was predeceased by her mother, Maime Norene Kincheloe, her father, Cleveland Dewitt Scarborough, Sr., and her brothers and sister: Cleve Jr., George David, Douglas Bruce, and Lena Isabell. 

BURIAL INFORMATION:

Cemetery: Waresville Cemetery in Utopia, TX Date: Planned to be 12/27/22 but there will be NO graveside funeral service in keeping with her wishes. 

MEMORIAL SERVICE: 

A church-based Memorial Service will be held at a place and date that are yet to be decided. Contact gailcreech@juno.com for more information.