Gladys Mae Hall

Gladys Hall passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 21, 2024. She died at home, beautifully, on her own terms. She stayed independent and knew exactly what she wanted—just like she did in life. Gladys was born on April 26, 1942. When she was a child, she was separated from her birth parents and adopted. The details of the separation follow the story of indigenous peoples throughout this land and putting together the pieces of that story was something Gladys was always working on. Gladys loved her adoptive family. Her parents, Margaret and George Henson watched her win Homecoming Queen in Michigan and were present when she married the father of her two boys. She worked to expand the definition of family by trying to reconnect with the Saginaw Chippewa heritage of her birth parents and finding her siblings who didn’t come with her in adoption. She took Ojibwe lessons, loved basketry, and became an avid reader of Indigenous stories and works on ways of being. She shared this love with her grandchildren and filled her home with artifacts that connected her to her history. She was lucky to have known many loves in her life and enjoyed giving romantic “advice” to her grandchildren. Gladys had two boys with her then-husband, Charles Lail. Gladys later married Gary Hall and, with him, discovered a love of the desert and led an interesting life on the road while Gary trained horses. She tended her desert home by feeding the critters, painting the landscape, and practicing strict conservation. She loved traveling internationally vicariously through travel shows and European mystery novels—and for some reason, she was really into the Royal Family gossip. When she wasn’t learning about other countries, she was watching baseball. She loved watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren go after their baseball dreams and she was an MLB superfan. Gladys loved learning about herbs, food, and health but that didn’t stop her from enjoying just a little bit of your dessert or taco. Gladys is survived by Richard and Debbie Lail, Morgan Lail, Danielle Lail and Ally Nabbouh, Benjamin and Jody Lail, Benjamin and Chelsy Lail, Laurie Jo and John Rentmeister, Brady and Kate Lail, Taylor and Matt Everton, and her nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by friends and neighbors who lunched with her and cared for her. The family will be honoring her wishes by not having a big public service. We ask that you share a memory of Gladys with those you love and take your oregano oil this cold and flu season. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends taking Glady’s advice by taking the money you would have spent on them and burying it in your backyard. Gladys, “may your moccasin feet take you to the encampment of the guardians who have known you before time.” You were divinely beautiful and dazzlingly clever—a kindred spirit to many.

Gladys Mae Hall

April 26, 1942 - September 21, 2024