Gale Bear

On Feb 4, 2021, Gale Bear passed away ensconced in the home she never tired of transforming from what was once drab to a charming storybook home surrounded by the glorious gardens she tended with such joy and care.   Gale was born in Camp Hill, PA on September 30, 1938, to Israel and Mabel (Cope) Gross in an Old Order Mennonite household that would profoundly shape her life for fifty years before she finally left. Also profoundly shaping her life were years of domestic violence and stalking. She was however a fierce and determined survivor who simply put one foot in front of the other. She worked two jobs and ran a business to single-handedly provide food, shelter, and clothing for her six kids. And she would continue to preserve her mother’s 50-year tradition with a deli and bakery stand at the West Shore Farmer’s market to pass on to the third generation.   When she died at 82, Gale was still young at heart. She never lost her lifelong love of learning, history, or travel. However, her body didn’t get the young at heart memo. For the last two years she keenly mourned her absence on the tennis court (and with her tennis friends) that had been a 40-year-old passion of hers. Anyone who stepped on a tennis court with her instantly realized she was a fierce competitor, yet she also welcomed and connected anyone remotely interested in the sport she loved.   She could turn any stranger into an instant friend and this along with an unstinting work ethic saw her blossom into a successful real estate agent in the second half of her life. Her vivacious smile, curiosity and genuine interest in others would attract a large, diverse, and devoted group of friends who congregated for her garden tours, book club parties, and lunches on her deck featuring engaging conversations around wide- ranging topics.   Yes, she was a remarkable, sparkling soul and she was also human. The hardscrabble years of trauma left their mark. Her relationships with her children were complicated, diverse, and some were broken. It has been a lifelong journey for all to heal. She was, like so many remarkable, vibrant people, a complex person.   All her life, she would take refuge in the simplicity of Nature. She frequently quoted her favorite poem “October’s Bright Blue Weather”. And in the last year, as she coped with the isolation wrought by Covid, she delighted in the watching the birds feed outside her windows. She was particularly thrilled at sighting a new bird, a rare event for a lifelong birdwatcher.   It wasn’t just birds she like to feed; she loved to feed people too. It seemed to be her uncomplicated way of expressing love. The familiarity of traditional “farm supper” dishes served to comfort, soothe, and gather those closest to her. Her son-in-law said with a sad twinkle in his eye that he would miss her green beans and her beef gravy almost as much as he would miss her.   Gale Bear is survived by: Her six children: David, Ben (Denise), Patty (Kevin), Rachel (Dave), Susie, Sharon (Daniel). Ten grandchildren: Brandon, Nathan & Ashley Bear, Ariana, Austin, & Sophie Freeman, Morgan and Evan Amsrud, and Luke, and Jack Sabolchick along with two new great- grandchildren. She is also survived by her beloved sister/ friend, tennis competitor, and travel companion, Linda Ratzlaff, and her oldest brother Glenn Gross. Finally, her extended family of nieces and nephews enjoyed her scintillating conversations and the warmth of her interest in them and their children. The family will be hosting a celebration of her life in late April (outdoors and socially distanced) in her garden as the tulips burst into color where we can imagine her saying as she had so many times, “You must come see my garden”. If you would like to be included in the celebration of this vibrant life, please leave your name and email address in the guestbook at this link: https://www.mykeeper.com/profile/GaleBear/