The services celebrating the life of Gail Cosette Trousdale Hackett, 80, of Enid will be held 3:00 P.M. Friday December 30, 2016 in the Emmanuel Baptist Church with Pastor Wade Burleson officiating. Private grave side services will precede the church service in the Memorial Park Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Brown-Cummings Funeral Home.
Gail Cosette Trousdale Hackett was born May 29, 1936 at Trousdale, Oklahoma to Arthur Lee and Ella Mae Trousdale, the oldest of five children. She departed this life on Wednesday, December 28, 2016. Gail spent her early years in the small community of Trousdale which was founded by her grandfather. She graduated from Tecumseh High School and attended O.B.U for a short time. She married Herman Franklin Hackett on June 27, 1953 in Asher, Oklahoma. They were childhood sweethearts and were married over sixty years. Three children were born to this union: Steven Craig, Lori Diann, and Alison Renee.
The Hackett’s first home was in Shawnee, then Ft. Riley, Kansas. After her husband’s tour of duty with the U.S. Army, they established a home in Tecumseh where all three of their children were born. She was active in numerous community and church activities. During these years she was active in the usual school activities for her growing family. Her Lord, her husband and children were the loves of her life.
While living in Tecumseh, she assisted her husband in many community affairs while he was serving as Mayor. She was active in the First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school and served several years as Church Clerk and Vacation Bible School Director. She taught Sunday School for over forty years (Tecumseh and Enid) and the majority was with young married couples. She loved being the Director for the married couples and well as serving ten years as the Director of Vacation Bible School. She was a volunteer at Mission Hill Hospital and President of the Tecumseh Alumni Association.
In 1971, she and her husband relocated to Enid. For the next forty-five years she assisted her husband in the Long Term Health Care business. They owned and operated Greenbrier Village which also included Burgundy, Inc. Through the past forty-five years of her ministry at Greenbrier Village, she was the constant source of beauty through all her art work throughout the homes, her decorating with flowers for every season and her beautiful piano playing for all the residents. She also illustrated a children’s coloring book along with the intergenerational story for the Greenbrier Village Pre K program and the Emmanuel Intergenerational program called “You are Special.” She and her husband opened Oxygen Oklahoma North in 1988 and sold it five years later.
Gail was particularly interested in art and decorating. She decorated all their facilities as they were built. She was an artist who painted primarily in oils and watercolor. Two of her paintings appeared on the cover of cookbooks. She has also written a book entitled “A Daughter Goes Home”. It was written for her grandchildren so that they might know how uniquely different her life had been growing up during the war years than theirs had been.
Mrs. Hackett was past President of Chapter DO sisterhood and a fifty-year member. She was a mentor for the “Apple of Gold” program; again sharing her the beauty of her love for God, husband and family with young women. She helped organize the Enid Christian Women’s Club and served as their first Prayer Chairman for several years. She served on the board of directors of New Horizons and Hope Outreach. She and her husband were instrumental in building the Homeless Day Center at Hope Outreach. She was a Trustee for Emmanuel Baptist Church and served as the first woman Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Throughout her entire life, she cared deeply for those who struggled with making their way in life. She also saw their work with the elderly as a ministry. She never felt better or above anyone. Throughout her life, she strived to quietly help meet needs in lives of people through much generosity to meet other people’s individual needs. Her love for and believing the best in people was felt by everyone who knew her.
Children: Son, Steven Craig Hackett of Enid, Daughter, Lori Hackett Long and husband, Randy of Enid, Daughter, Alison Naifeh Dick and husband, John Paul Dick of OKC, OK. Grandchildren: Brandon Hackett and wife, Deann of Enid, Katy Long of Seattle, Washington, Rachel Gail Cockrell and husband, John of OKC, OK, Emily Long of Los Angeles, CA, Max Naifeh of OKC, OK, and Annissa Naifeh of OKC, OK.
three Great grandchildren: Laiken Gail Hackett, Jett Hackett, and Jace Hackett, all of Enid. Step-Grand Children: Jennifer and Bailey Jordan of OKC, OK, and Patrick and Yerni Dick- Vigo, Spain Step-Great grandson- Leonard Dick, Vigo, Spain
One sister- Barbara Trousdale Pope of Edmond, OK. One Brother- Bill Trousdale and wife, Karyl of Yukon, OK
Preceded in death- Husband of 60 years, Herman Hackett, Parents, Ella Mae and Arthur Trousdale, Brothers, Darrell and Bob Trousdale, and precious grandson, Tyler Hackett
Memorial contributions can be made to Emmanuel Baptist Church, Hope Outreach Homeless Shelter, and the Junior Welfare League of Enid Endowment Fund with Brown-Cummings Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.
Condolences may be made to the family online at WWW.Brown-Cummings.com
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