Gail Aliene Marvin, 80, of Salina, Kansas unexpectedly went home to be with Jesus, her Lord and Savior, Thursday, February 24, 2022.
Gail was born to John and Geneva (Steen) Van Valkenburg in Topeka, Kansas on September 12, 1941. The family lived in Topeka, Garden City and Wichita, Kansas and settled in Montezuma, Kansas, where she graduated from Montezuma High School in 1959. She earned her RN degree from Wesley Hospital College of Nursing in Wichita, Kansas in 1962, where she began nursing and lived until 1964.
Gail married the love of her life, Roy J. (Jim) Marvin, on September 20, 1964, in Montezuma. After their wedding, they moved to California, first to Compton and then to Long Beach. While in California, she worked as an obstetrics nurse at Lakewood General Hospital, where both of her children were born. Feeling the call of her home state as a good place to raise their children, they returned to Kansas in 1972 and settled down in Salina, where Gail continued to work as a nurse at Asbury Hospital until her retirement and went on to work at Mowery Clinic. Always one to give freely of her time and talents, she was constantly involved in her community, through serving and singing in her church, singing in the annual ‘Messiah’ presentations at Bethany College and with the Salina Choral and the Silvertones.
She also served in many volunteer activities, including most recently with Meals on Wheels and at Salina Regional Health Center. The compassion, generosity, patience, and kindness she extended to all she met were a perfect reflection of her loving spirit and commitment to her faith in Jesus Christ.
Gail deeply loved being with family. Whether it was hosting loved ones at her home in Salina or travelling across the country in her beloved camper, she always made an effort to be involved in her children and grandchildren’s lives. She was a phenomenal housekeeper, keeping her home immaculately clean and baking the best cherry pies and carrot cookies around. She and her husband, Jim, loved spending time with one another, and together they enjoyed seeing the country on their own or with their trailer club and square dancing with the Salina Twirlers. She enjoyed reading, walking, bowling, watching KU basketball and going out to the Salina airport, just to see what kind of planes might be there. She loved animals, and her friends and neighbors knew that if they found a stray kitten, they should, “Check with Gail!” She was wise but supremely humble. She was always quick to listen, and even quicker to laugh.
Gail was preceded in death by her parents, John and Geneva, and sister, Patricia (Pat) VanCleave. She is survived by her loving husband, Jim, children Beth (Kevin) Borger and Matt (Sue) Marvin, grandchildren, Hayden, Logan (Maris), and Ashton Borger, Grant (Erin) and Cole Marvin, devoted sisters, LouAna (Ann) Van Valkenburg, Virgina Van Valkenburg, Kathy (Joe) Powell, along with many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, great nephews and great nieces.
Visitation will be Friday, March 4, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., with family present at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. 8th St, Salina. A service celebrating her life will be held Saturday, March 5 at 2:00pm at Belmont Blvd. Church of the Nazarene, 2632 Highland Ave., Salina, with Rev. Paul Long officiating. Memorials may be made to the church in her honor.