Edna Gail Garrison

Edna “Gail” Chamberlin Urton Garrison passed away on June 5, 2023. She was born on December 3, 1917 in Topinabee, Michigan to Ernest and Grace (Abrams) Chamberlin, the sixth child of eight. She graduated from Cheboygan High School in 1934 at the age of 16 and attended Western Teachers Normal College. She returned to Topinabee to work in the family’s store and at the paper mill. She moved to Detroit where she worked before and after she married Harry Urton of Carlisle, AR in 1942. After WWII, they had four children; Donna (Kenneth) Petry, David (Donna), Susan (Michael) McDougal, and Christine (Frank) Haas. Gail worked for Detroit Public Schools as head bookkeeper and also numerous other bookkeeping jobs before retiring and moving back to Topinabee in 1988.

Gail loved to travel. She visited Europe, Asia, and 49 of the 50 states. Besides traveling, she loved to read and to sew, especially wedding gowns for her daughters and American Girl doll clothes for her granddaughters. Her other loves included listening to the news and The Detroit Tigers and watching Jeopardy. She enjoyed finding a bargain, whether at a garage sale or resale shop. She loved a good deal.

Gail won numerous contests which included a Ford Station Wagon in 1957, a television, a cruise, the Irish and Maybelline sweepstakes.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her seven siblings, her daughter Donna Gene, her daughter-in-law Donna Lee, granddaughters Cassandra Petry and Lindsay Urton, and her great grandson Joey Stewart, and her husband, Charles, her ballroom dancing partner. Gail will be missed by her grandchildren, Jason McDougal, Brianna Cooley, Alyssa Ogren, Cherilyn Fraser and Suzanne Hubbard, Roberta Urton and their spouses and children. Also, her many special nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Viewing and visitation will take place at Stone Funeral Home in Indian River, on Sunday June 11, 2023 from 6-8 PM. Funeral service is at Topinabee Community Church on Monday, June 12, at 11:00 AM with burial to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in memorial can be made to Hospice of Michigan (830 S. Otsego Road, Gaylord, MI 49735) and Topinabee Community Church.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Edna Gail Garrison, please visit our floral store.