The Aunt Who Loved Azaleas: 52 Ancestors 2022 Prompt “Flowers”

Aunt Gail, Azaleas, and Adorable Photos

Gail Smith Jandy Livingstone: 1934-2011

 

I just ran across three adorable photos of Aunt Gail as a little child last week. They prompted memories of her, including her love of the azaleas she and Phil planted on their Davidisonville, Maryland property. So when I saw the prompt “Flowers”, I immediately thought of Gail.

Gail held by her mother Lorene on August 31, 1936--age 2

Gail Smith Jandy was born to Edward and Lorene Smith Jandy on June 30, 1934 in Detroit, Michigan. She was their second child, seven years younger than her older sister Laurel. At age sixteen, she accompanied her parents to Ethiopia when her father was stationed at the embassy for a year, and attended the Beirut College for Women for another year afterwards. These experiences sparked a lifelong love of travel.

After getting her degree in library science, she worked for the Air Force on several bases around the world, establishing school libraries, before returning to the United States where she worked as a high school librarian for two Maryland school districts.

She married Philip Livingstone in 1970, and helped to raise his two daughters, Caren and Cathy. She died of cancer on March 11, 2011. Gail’s obituary speaks of her love for gardening and azaleas:

“As a resident of Davidsonville her avid interest in flower gardening evolved into establishing a garden including more than 200 azalea plants which were the focus of her annual "Azalea Walk" for friends. She derived a lot of pleasure through participation in the informal Perennial Garden Club established by local gardener friends.”

Gail in Detroit in 1936--almost 2 years old

These delightful photos of Gail as a young child show the same joyful spirit and energy that I remember her exhibiting as an adult.

Gail--April 1940. Age 5 years and 10 months