Gail Joyce Beagle, 78, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 28, 2014. She was born November 25, 1935, in Beaumont to Hazel and Victor L. Beagle. Gail graduated from Nederland High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and 4-H Club. She attended Texas Women’s University in Denton, and was selected for membership in the honorary fraternity for women in journalism, now called Association of Women in Communications.
Gail moved to San Antonio in 1959, and began working for the late Henry B. Gonzalez, then a State Senator who represented San Antonio at Austin. She campaigned for Senator Gonzalez for United States House Representatives in 1961, and upon his election became his Chief of Staff and Press Secretary for thirty-seven years.
Additional milestones for Gail included completion of a Master of Arts degree in Legislative affairs, being listed in “Who’s Who in American Politics,” and becoming veteran of the “Capitol Hill Press Conference.”
Upon retirement from federal employment, Gail became President of the Henry B. Gonzalez Foundation for Inspiring Public Service, which seeks to establish at San Antonio Community College (SAC), a center named for the late representative, Henry B. Gonzalez, for public service, integrity and courage. She was also active in many social, religious and public service endeavors. For a few months she was the interim director of the Guadalupe Community Center that serves a poor neighborhood in San Antonio. Gail was a great American and civil rights activist since the 1950’s who continued to work for the public good in a variety of capacities such as being a Bexar County Democratic Precinct Chair.
She was a loving, caring and supportive person to her family, coworkers and friends. Gail devoted her life unselfishly to helping all those she encountered in her journey.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Hazel Beagle; and sister, Carolyn Beagle.
Gail is survived by her brother, Leroy Beagle and his wife, Larice; nephew, Steven Beagle and his wife, Pam; nieces, Vicky Hartt and Terri Romero and her husband, Jay; great nephews and nieces, Wade and Hillary Beagle, Emily and Derrick Allport, Jonathan, Melanie and Colton Hartt; Danica and Dylan Romero; great-great nephew, Gavin Perez; and a host of friends and relatives.
A gathering of Ms. Beagle’s family and friends will begin at 12:30 p.m., followed by her funeral service at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 1, 2014, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street Nederland. Interment will follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park, Port Neches.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alamo Colleges Foundation for HBG Center at SAC, 201 West Sheridan, Building C-3, San Antonio, Texas 78204.
