Gail Rae (McDonough) Begg

Gail Rae (McDonough) Begg, age 79, of Denver, CO (formerly of Escanaba), passed away Sunday, July 17, 2022 at Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver, CO. She was born on June 4, 1943 in Gladstone, MI, the daughter of Ray and Doris (Schram) McDonough.

As a toddler, Gail was in LeCaptain’s Ice Skating Reviews at the Fair Grounds. She attended St. Pat’s Grade School and Holy Name High School, where she was a drum majorette in parades. Gail taught dance at LeCaptain’s Dance Studio, worked as a carhop at the A&W, and as a cashier at the Red Owl while attending school. She was a member of the Queen's court at St. Joseph’s Nursing College where she met the love of her life, Canadian Michigan Tech hockey player, Gary Begg. They were married for 60 years at the time of her death and had two children, Kelly Begg (Mia) and Shannon Calhoun (Shane). Proud and loving grandmother to Sterling, Connor, Lauren, Ethan, Aidan, and Sonja. Gail's family was the most important thing in her life. She traveled to Canada, many European countries, as well as Asia and the Caribbean. She was a model and loyal wife, mother, sister, and grandmother and will be missed by many. 

Gail is survived by her husband; children; grandchildren; as well as her sister, Sandra Albrecht (Peter); nieces, Barbara Nebel (Robert) and Gail Flannery (Jason); and uncle, Jim Schram (Ann).

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Doris McDonough; and grandparents, Sylvester and Mathilda Schram, and Ed and Venla McDonough.  

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Monday, July 25, 2022 at St. Anne Catholic Church in Escanaba. Funeral services celebrating the life of Gail will follow at 11:00 a.m., Monday, with Father Fran DeGroot officiating. A luncheon will be served at the conclusion of the services in the church fellowship hall. Burial will take place in the Gardens of Rest Cemetery. 

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