Gail Purtan (née Nulton) passed away October 31, 2018 at the age of 80.

She was the loving wife of Paul Richard ‘Dick’ Purtan; devoted mother of Jennifer (Neil), Jackie (Rick), Jill (Mark), JoAnne (Eric), Jessica (Chris), and Julie (Brad); cherished grandmother of Matthew, Julia, Lauren, Preston, Charlie, Adam, Jack, and Brayden; cherished sister of Joan Mavis; special friend of Mary Martin, Pam Wagner, and Maria Villagomez; and dear daughter of the late Charlie and Betty Nulton.

We all have a "Life Story". Gail Purtan was blessed with a lifelong "Love Story".

At the tender age of 15, a 16 year old classmate at Kenmore, New York High School, a boy named Dick, called and nervously asked her out. The rest is history.

After graduating from High School, Gail worked as a legal secretary to pay for Dick's college and graduate school - and their wedding bands! After four and a half years of dating, they married in 1957 and as the years went by, she became the mother of six beautiful daughters. Gail loved Dick, and her girls, with a fierce devotion that knew no bounds.

Through her words and actions, she taught her girls how to be strong women, kind and loving partners, and the best moms they could be to her eight beloved grandchildren. (Six boys and two girls!)

During more than 20 years of major health challenges, Gail persevered - facing an ever growing number of illnesses with a smile. When Dick or the girls despaired, she was the one who looked on the bright side and made everyone feel better.

And her warm and giving heart wasn't just reserved for her family. Gail used her long and successful battles with Ovarian & Breast Cancer to help and encourage other women facing the same diagnoses.  Together, Dick and Gail reached out to the community – raising millions of dollars for causes that meant so much to them including Children’s Hospital of Michigan, The Salvation Army, plus the Karmanos Cancer Center through The Purtan Family Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.

Through it all, she was determined to never be defined by her challenges - but by how she faced them.

Gail's bravery & tenacity coupled with an infectious smile that lit up her beautiful blue eyes made her more than just a Wife, Mother and Grandmother... she was the Heart of everything and everyone. 

Hers was a life well lived, and Dick - the love of her life and husband of 60 years - and her girls take solace in the certainty that she is now, smiling still, in the arms of God. 

Gail never needed "things" to make her happy, but rather just needed to love and be loved.

She was… and always will be. 

Gail’s visitation will be held Friday, November 2nd, from 1pm-8pm at McCabe Funeral Home, 31950 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. Her Funeral Service will be Saturday, November 3rd, at 11am at Franklin Community Church, 26425 Wellington Rd., Franklin, MI 48025.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to The Purtan Family Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation, and the Salvation Army in her name. Please make checks payable to The Purtan Family Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation and mail payments to Raymond James, 27333 Meadowbrook Rd. Suite 110, Novi, MI 48377.