2021-12-4, Gail Jenkins Memorial Service

2021-12-4, Gail Jenkins Memorial

Order of Service

Opening Comments

Prayer

Song #1, Save the Roses

Obituary

Kathleen Gail Pfannkuche (Forn-uh-cue) Jenkins

Gail was born to Lee Adam and Beatrice Ruth (Wilson) Pfannkuche on August 16, 1939 in Vinita, Oklahoma.

She died on November 22, 2021 at the age of 82. Gail was preceded in death by her grandmother, both of her parents, her Aunt Bonnie, nephew Gerry Wayne and dear friends Dixie Wells and Gayle Mahan. She is survived by her brothers, Gerry and John Pfannkuche, her children- Dewayne Frank Jenkins and wife Teri, Cynthia Gail Jenkins, Daniel Joel Jenkins and wife Crystal,

nine grandchildren-Laci, Chase, Joshua, Jessica, Alley, Landyn, Whitney, Jesse and April;

eleven great grandchildren-Cheyenne, Ava, Tymber, Briar, Audrey, Byntlee, Kanyon, Briggs, Blaiklee, Everlee, and Bodhi as well as her nieces Kathy Dunn and Nikki Devin, many kids and longtime friends she loved throughout her life.

Gail attended Webster Middle School and graduated from Central High School in Oklahoma City in May of 1958. She was an active member of the Central High Alumni Association and cherished many of the friendships she made there. After high school, she married Fred Dewayne Jenkins. They were proud to have three beautiful children together.

She began her lifelong career and followed her passion in banking as a loan officer. Gail was gifted with an incredible sense of creativity, vision and talent.

She had a multitude of hobbies that she thoroughly enjoyed-crafting, sewing, ceramics, creating flower arrangements and wreaths, decorating, remodeling, designing gorgeous outfits, costumes for the grandbabies and beautiful paintings.

It’s been said not to stand still too long in Gail’s house-otherwise, you might get painted yourself!

She loved to work in her flowerbeds and always had beautifully fragrant flowers with each and every bloom! She could make anything grow and loved sharing her flowers; always in hopes they would bring as much joy to the next person. She loved her family deeply.

She loved to tell her jokes too. She believed in the tremendous power of prayer. She was a little spitfire-a fighter, a mother, a grandmother, a great grandmother, a true friend and a survivor!

Honorary Pallbearers-Shirley Ritzendollar, Warren and Billie Sabin, Andrea Manwell, Jeri King, Pam Dewberry, Robert Sandlin, Mark Mitchell.

1 Corinthians 15:10 ESV

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Song #2, Stars in Heaven

Eulogies

Song #3, Will the Circle Be Unbroken

Message:

Thank you for giving me the honor to officiate Gail’s funeral. I did not have the privilege of knowing Gail, but after talking with Cindy and her friend Shirley, I wish I had.

In just an hour of visiting with them I could see that Gail was a creative, caring, and thoughtful person.

It’s no wonder that she is so deeply loved by so many and will be missed greatly.

Creative-

She was a gifted seamstress and loved to sow outfits, make ceramic crafts, and decorate her home.

She was always dreaming about new projects and she was always active designing something. Even in the weeks before she passed, she was making plans to redecorate parts of her home.

Gail was always looking forward at what she wanted to do rather than dwelling on what she had accomplished.

I guess you could say that she loved the hunt more than having the prize in hand.

Caring-

Her creativity often blended with her love for family and friends. Love motivated her to use her gifts to bless others.

She would tailor hunting jackets for the boys and make incredible costumes for the grandkids.

You could see this love in her gardening. Her garden gave her great joy. But for her the best part of plants was passing them on to others. She hoped that the flowers gave others as much joy as they had done for her. Isn’t that an example of love? Do to others as you would want them to do to you (Luke 6:31).

She was also resourceful. If you needed something, she’d get it for you even if she did have it.

To many of the neighborhood kids, and friends of her own children, she was like a mom who would help to take care of them.

One of the great ways Gail cared for her kids was she supported their passions.

The boys learned to hunt and loved to hunt. She was not one to complain that they hunted too much and needed to be home more. Rather, she let them go and build that part of their lives.

Thoughtful-

Gail was very intelligent.

She developed in her career as a loan officer. She taught herself how to read and review contracts to ensure all parties were being treated fairly.

This was a skill she used in caring for her friends and family as well. Did any of you ever benefit from her look some paperwork over for you?

When the kids grew up, she found herself going on business trips around the world (Asia, Europe). She is alleged to have met people like Warren Buffet and even the Queen of England,

She had her convictions regarding politics and fairness. She held to them with fervor.

She was a fierce supporter of her family and friends. If you said one bad thing about her kids she would be on you like a cat with claws.

Gail was a God-fearing person. She studied her Bible intently. She arrived at her own conclusions based on what she read.

She also prayed.

Her actions show wanted to know God.

She obviously understood the ethics of Jesus Christ.

A. She did to others as she wanted done to her.

B. She loved her neighbor as herself.

C. She suspended judgment on others, lest she be judged.

Clearly, she knew what the Bible said about behavior pleasing.

She was a friend to pastors. Sadly, the pastor and friend she wanted to do her service died earlier this year. But they had many conversations at the kitchen table about God and the world.

Knowing this, it would have been nice to have had a visit with her at her kitchen table.

I wish ask I could hear what she thought about amazing passages like:

John 1:1–3 (ESV)

1 In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

and...

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

and...

Romans 3:23–24 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

I will never know what her convictions were about such things, but it is comforting to know she respected the Word of God, she wanted to know what it said at face value, and lived love because of it.

Really, She reminded me of the Bereans in Acts 17:10-11

Acts 17:10–11 ESV

10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

As Scripture was a comfort to her, it can be a comfort to you today as you mourn Gail’s passing. The following is a Psalm from God to you to give comfort in difficult times, to bolster your faith. It shows God’s love for you and the relationship He wishes for you.

Psalm 23 ESV

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Another one briefly is...

Psalm 34:18 ESV

18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

And of course there is the most comforting idea of all, that Jesus’ name “Immanuel” means “God with us.”

In this name is the promise that Jesus loves us, desires a relationship with us, and will bring fullness to our hearts if we will turn from our sins and welcome Him in.

This is a particular passion of mine and I’d be glad to sit at the kitchen table to talk about this with anyone who wishes.

Slideshow

Prayer and Dismissal