Gail Ladd

Gail Anderson Ladd, 87, of Waterville Maine passed away on January 9, 2026. She was

born March 11, 1938, in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, the only child of Carl and Ann

Anderson.

Gail graduated from Waterville high school in 1955 and the Massachusetts General

Hospital nursing program in 1958. She earned her BS degree from Thomas College in

1968. Over the years, Gail practiced her nursing skills in many capacities including

Thayer Hospital and Colby College in Waterville, Maine.

Gail met her best friend and husband Charlie when she moved to Waterville at the age

of 13. They married on September 13, 1958. Together they raised their four children

and traveled the world. Gail particularly loved islands and spent at least one night at 67

different ones. She traveled to every country in Europe and she traveled with purpose.

Every trip was carefully researched and planned. Once home, Gail diligently recorded

each trip with journals and photographs.

Gail absolutely loved her home. She spent hours making her home both beautiful and

welcoming. She was an artistic person who sewed, wall papered, stenciled, knit, quilted,

needlepointed and whatever craft became in vogue. She even made a hand knotted

wool rug. She never stopped, and everything she did was done with precision. She did

not just sew clothes. She added monograms or embroidery or appliques to make each

item special.

Gail loved her friends. And once you were in her life, you were there to stay. She kept

in touch with her grammar school best friend, her high school best friends, her college

friends and everyone else that she met along the way. Even if you moved out of town,

she kept in touch. She loved meeting people. Charlie loves to say that when they left

Greece, he did not think there were 3 people in the country that did not know they were

celebrating their 50th anniversary.

Gail loved to entertain. She hosted a cookie swap every Christmas season for over 50

years. She had porch parties, dinner parties and card parties. Every event was

planned, from the napkins to the decor.

Gail loved antiques. She studied them. She and a group of friends formed "The

Waterville Antique Club". This special group of ladies met monthly for many years with

the members taking turns preparing a presentation. Gail had a booth at the Fairfield

antique mall. She loved everything about it from the sourcing of the inventory to the

presentation of her wares.

Her legacy of love, friendship and spirit of adventure will live on. She is survived by her

husband, Charlie Ladd, her son Kevin Ladd and his wife Carolyn of Smithfield, Maine

her daughter, Kimberly Taylor and husband Ed of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts and son

Eric Ladd and wife Jennifer of Little River, South Carolina. She is also survived by

grandchildren Timothy Ladd and wife Maring, Kasey Catterlin and husband Michael,

Daniel Taylor, and wife Kerry, John Taylor and wife, Katelyn, Shannon Bowden and

husband Caleb, Alyssa Ladd, Carly Ladd and Thomas Ladd. Great grandchildren are

Lenny Taylor, Jack Taylor, Sophie Bowden, Samuel Catterlin and Maeve Taylor. Gail was predeceased by her daughter Heid Pacheco.