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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Colquhoun, Gail Rose (Young)

Age 65

COLQUHOUN, Gail Rose (Young) (Age 65) Died on March 3rd, 2014 due to metastatic cancer of the appendix.

She was born on June 21st, 1948 in Macklin, Saskatchewan to Emmanuel and Margaret Young.

Gail grew up in Denzil and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

She graduated from Sion High School in Saskatoon in 1966 where she was an avid broom ball player and part-time thespian.

Gail made lifelong friends and met her husband, James Colquhoun, while in nursing school at St. Paul’s Hospital.

They married in 1969 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and soon immigrated to the United States.

Early in her nursing career, she worked as a cardiac care nurse in both Michigan and New Jersey, and briefly as a home health nurse in New York.

She moved to Spokane, Washington in 1975 where she and her husband raised their young family.

As they grew, she championed their interests and served as PTA president, cub scout den mother, car pool organizer, swim meet lane judge, wrestling mom, soccer mom, t-ball coach, and Ham on Regal player for Ferris High school.

In 1988, Gail began managing her husband’s surgical practice where she supervised office staff, counseled patients, and scheduled surgeries.

She served as her husband’s business partner until their retirement in 2008.

She was an active member of St. Peter Catholic Church and served variously as church council member, lector, fundraiser, organizer, and member of the “village people”.

She had a vibrant and powerful singing voice, which she used regularly at church, in the car, or standing in the kitchen.

In her religious life, she preferred to work diligently with others for the good of the church.

She enjoyed all holidays but reveled in Christmas and Halloween; she particularly enjoyed holiday school parties and people still talk about her Valentine’s Day “love elephant” costume.

She was not, however, above dressing up on ordinary occasions, recently masquerading as a bridge-guarding troll at Nishinomiya Japanese Garden at Manito Park, to the amusement of her treasure-hunting grand-daughter.

She loved all of her grandchildren and delighted both privately and publicly in shopping for them and showering them with attention.

Her family will miss her protective devotion, sage advice, warm charm, and playful sarcasm.

Gail was preceded in death by her father, Emmanuel “Pep” Young.

Gail is survived by her spouse, James Colquhoun, of Spokane, Washington; her son, James “J.J.” Colquhoun (Molly Keys) of Kenmore, Washington; her son, Jason Colquhoun (Michelle) of Bend, Oregon; her son, Justin Colquhoun of Portland, Oregon; her daughter, Rachelle Montanaro (Christopher), of Denver, Colorado; her mother, Margaret Young; her brother Garry (Diane Daly) Young; her brother Brian (Donna) Young; her sister, Moira Young (Rick Muzyka); her sister, Teree Young; her brother, Jack (Carol) Young; her sister, Margaret Silzer; and four grandchildren : Ellie Colquhoun, Ian Colquhoun, Juliet Montanaro and Samuel Colquhoun.

A Vigil will be held at St. Peter Catholic Church (3520 E. 18th Avenue, Spokane, Washington 99223) on Friday March 7th, 2014 at 7:30pm.

A memorial service will be held at St. Peter Catholic Church at 10am on Saturday, March 8th, 2014.

Her family will be greeting friends and relatives at a reception at the church hall immediately thereafter.

Her family requests that memorial donations be made to Hospice of Spokane, P.O.

Box 2215, Spokane, Washington 99210 in lieu of flowers.