Gail E. Ruggles

Gail Evelyn Austin was born on June 14, 1947, to Gertrude and Truman Austin, of East Haven, Vermont.  She was born at a time and in a place where the love and support of family, extended family and small local communities shaped a life and defined an existence.  She embodied this way of life all her years; an exceptionally devoted family member and an exemplary member of her small community.

Her early years were spent on the mountain in East Haven, and for a time, in the village of West Burke.  She recounted childhood stories of good times and hard times, but always with an emphasis on the good - family picnics, trips to visit relatives at farms across the valley, romps with her cousins and siblings through the pastures and forests on the mountain, special moments with special aunts and uncles.
Her blonde curls and brilliant smile must have been a joy to those who knew her as a child!

Gail attended highschool at Lyndon Institute and worked for a time at Fairbanks Scales, before marrying her beloved husband of 52 years, George T. Ruggles, Sr.
Together, they built a home on the mountain in East Haven, raising their family in the same warm embrace of extended family that they’d both grown up in.

As a young mother, Gail was active in her children’s school, the local 4-H Group, and the church youth group.  She made friendships in these groups that she maintained throughout her life.

She was always incredibly organized and efficient, an indispensable partner to her husband in their business ventures.

Later, as her children grew, she worked a bit outside the home.  Most notably at Bailey’s Country Store in East Burke.  There, she realized her great talent for decorating, her eye for beauty and composition.  Forever after, her home was a showcase and her endeavors in design a delight to her visitors.

Gail is also fondly remembered as Mrs. Ruggles, from Kingdom Montessori School, where she helped her daughter in the early years of the school’s existence.  She is remembered for her grandmotherly warmth and for teaching dozens of children how to sew. 

Gail was an accomplished cook and an impressive baker.  There were many, many requests for her special dishes and confections over the years.  Her nieces and nephews fondly remember making fried dough with her; her chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting was the only cake her husband ever requested for his birthday; her snowball cookies were the lightest, most delicate anyone ever had; and her children enjoyed the tradition of making the famous Ruggles pork pies with her every Christmas.

She and her husband enjoyed traveling by car and visiting relatives from the most northern tip of Maine to the southern end of California.

Gail excelled at all things domestic, and while raising six children was a feat only meant for the mighty, her greatest gift to the world might have been as an aunt and a grandmother.  Stories of her kindness and special attention to these family members have been flooding our inboxes.  As her eldest granddaughter recently wrote: ‘she was the glue…’  

Gail passed peacefully, in the presence of family, on Tuesday, September 26th, 2023.  She is survived by many who loved her dearly:

Her husband: George Ruggles, Sr.
Her children:  Larry Ruggles & Cindy Dargie; Toni Ruggles; Lonny Ruggles; George Jr. & Ann (Mitchell) Ruggles; Nichole Ruggles.
Her grandchildren: Maygan & Lucas Holmes, Krystal & Jason Ross; Amanda Frechette; Lydia Ruggles; William Ruggles; Jake Ruggles.
Her great-grandchildren: Dylan Frechette; Katie Howard; Jakob Holmes; Douglas Ross.
Her siblings: Eugene & Anita Austin; Irene Badger; Carol Austin & David Brisson.
Her husband’s siblings: Ann Fassett; Nancy Ruggles (Alfred/Ted); Peter & Gloria Ruggles; Nancy Ruggles (Kenneth/Doc); Linda & Fred Wells; Steve & Nancy Ruggles; Marcel Dionne (Joyce); and Timothy & Laurel Ruggles
And many special nieces, nephews and cousins. 

She is predeceased by her daughters Crystal Ruggles and Tina Ruggles; her God-daughter Jennifer Garand; her parents Truman and Gertrude Austin; her brothers-in-law John Badger, Charles Ruggles, Maurice Young, Cleve Fassett, Alfred (Ted) Ruggles, Kenneth (Doc) Ruggles and Mike Boulay; her sisters-in-law Polly Young, Judy Boulay and Joyce Dionne; and beloved aunts uncles, cousins and nieces and nephews.

A graveside service is to be held Friday, September 29th at 10:00 am at the East Haven Cemetery.  A Reception will follow at the East Haven Community Building.  In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gail’s honor to Caledonia Home Health and Hospice.