Gail Ferguson Martens Stoops

Gail Ferguson Martens Stoops Gail Ferguson Martens Stoops died peacefully on May 6, 2013 surrounded by her loving family and friends. Gail was born March 2, 1936 in New London, Texas to Irene and Fred Ferguson. She attended Baylor University. Her early life included a marriage to Jim Martens and working as a child welfare officer in Baton Rouge, LA. She also used her training at Baylor University to begin writing professionally. She wrote for Louisiana's Conservationist and Wildlife and Fisheries magazines, collecting wild game recipes from Louisiana's most prominent chefs. During her career at NASA, she was the director of public relations for the Apollo Moon Missions. She was friends with early astronauts Neil Armstrong and John Glenn. She then married Gordon Stoops, who worked with Wernher von Braun as head of rocket propulsion development for the Saturn rockets. It was during these years that Gail and Gordon frequently entertained Russian cosmonauts in their legendary Texas gulf coast style. After the death of her sons Greg and Danny, Gail devoted her life to art. She became an international artist, with her works bringing joy across the continents. As powerful as her paintings are, her impact in the studio is even greater. She was a mentor, surrogate mother and unwavering friend to hundreds of students, many of who became professional artists and teachers of art themselves. The evidence of her influence was apparent in the constant expression of gratitude and love during the hours before her death. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Jim Martens and Gordon Stoops, two sons Greg and Danny Martens, as well as her brother Don Ferguson. She is survived by her son James F. Martens and his wife Jette, of Austin Texas, and daughter Marianna Hendrycy and her husband Paul of Fayetteville, Arkansas. She is also survived by Cloace McGill and her husband Henry, and their three daughters. Also surviving are her grandchildren Jessica Reddick, Dana Craw, Robin Martens, Gordon Martens, Paul Goerlitz, Katy Martens, Max Hendrycy and Marjolyn Varano. She is also survived by Don's children, Kim, Kris, Mike, Michelle and their mother, Erlene Ferguson Gail will be buried alongside her sons Greg and Danny in Streetman, Texas, on May 18th, 2013. A memorial service will be held in Fayetteville at a later date. To sign the online guest book please visit www.nelsonberna.com