Gail Hall Varnado

Gail Hall Snyder Varnado passed away on Tuesday, June 1st, 2010, on her 69th birthday, with several family members by her bedside after a valiant battle with lung cancer. Gail was a strong woman with a dynamic personality who had a huge heart and made her four kids the center of her world. Gail’s caring nature led her to her most recent position at the Agency for Persons with Disabilities in Daytona Beach, Florida, a division of the State of Florida Department of Children and Families. Her career as a Social Services Counselor with the State of Florida spanned two decades. Gail was born on June 1st, 1941, in New York City, and was adopted at the age of three months by James and Hannah Snyder. She was raised in Greenwich, Connecticut. She was a popular girl, voted Prom Queen by her high school class. She attended Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin, and majored in Sociology. At Beloit, she met David Varnado, who she wed in 1968. Gail taught for a year or two in the Chicago area public elementary schools, then settled down with David to start a family. David, jr., Cheryl, and James were born in the next 3 years. Sara came along 9 years later, in 1981, during Gail’s second marriage to Tim Yates. Gail’s unwavering commitment to a life of public service to those with disabilities such as autism and Downs Syndrome and those in need touched countless lives. Gail also served as the top administrator of three different assisted living facilities prior to returning to work for the State of Florida in 2003. Gail’s commitment to public service is carried on by her son, James and her daughter, Sara, who work for local government and the State of Florida, respectively, and both of whom hold Master’s Degrees in Public Administration. Gail is survived by her four children: David Varnado (Roy) of Los Angeles, California, Cheryl McKeel (Kevin) of Longwood, Florida; James Varnado (Monica) of Longwood, Florida, and Sara Warren (Jeff) of Altamonte Springs, Florida; 3 grandchildren: Sage McKeel, Hope McKeel, and Story McKeel, of Longwood, Florida; her 2 brothers: Steve Snyder (Peggy), of Portland, Oregon, and Chris “Kit� Snyder (Pam) of Toledo, Ohio; her nephew, Jamie Snyder (Ronette) of Seattle, Washington, her niece, Dr. Kristen Snyder, of Portland, Oregon, and a handful of friends and coworkers who she loved dearly at the State’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities (DCF) in Daytona Beach, Florida. She will always be remembered for her many contributions to those less fortunate, her passion, her strength, and for putting her family above all else in the world.