Obituary of Gail Borden

Gail Maynard Borden was born March 16, 1919 in a two room sod house fifteen miles North and two miles East of Arriba, Colorado. It was the homestead of Albert Rhodell Borden and Eva Lena Campbell Borden. He attended Red Twin School for two years before it was destroyed by a tornado. He then rode horse or walked the mileage to attend Sunny Slope School. Gail graduated top of his class in 1937 and then farmed and ranched with the family. On October 14, 1956, Gail married Creta Iralyn Marrow and moved two miles west to the new home place. Until his father’s health failed they farmed together. Gail and Creta maintained one of the last and oldest Angus herds in Colorado. In 2006, he retired from farming. The highpoint of Gail’s life was October 1, 1960 with the birth of Royce, their only child. He was a lifetime member of the Bethel Church of The Brethren, during which time he held many positions and filled many duties locally and for the regional conference. Some highlights of Gail’s life included driving a school bus two years after high school. While reading was a passion, reading the King James Version of the Bible was his favorite. He shared three things with neighbors and friends. They were taking long walks while relating history, singing even when the words were wrong and catching people in one of his humorous stories. Gail enjoyed and encouraged Royce in his inventions and road trips to family reunions. Later in life, he became the loving father-in-law to Sandra Chadwick, Royce’s wife. He moved to Leisure Pines in downtown Arriba in 2009, but continued going to many farm sales with his son and new daughter-in-law. He retired to Lincoln County Care Center in 2012, but maintained an active visitation thru cell phone and trips to Bethel Church. Gail was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Creta and his only son, Royce. He is survived by his business partner and daughter-in-law, Sandra Chadwick Borden.