Gail L. Shrakes, age 72, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas passed away unexpectedly Friday, October 7, 2022, at the Via Christi Emergency Room in Ft. Scott. She was born October 11, 1949, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Harlon Guffey and Velma Rhodes Guffey. At an early age, she moved to Eve, Missouri where she grew up. Gail graduated from the Nevada High School. She married Frankie Shrakes, Jr. on June 6, 1966, at 6 o’clock in the evening. Gail and Frankie enjoyed fifty-six years of married life together. In earlier years, Gail worked as a cook at the Red Barn Restaurant and also as a cook at Mercy Hospital and area nursing homes while she was attending cosmetology school at Fort Scott Community College. After completing cosmetology school, Gail owned and operated her own beauty salon, Gail’s Professional Touch, for several years. Gail enjoyed spending time with her family, especially while fishing at the lake or gathering around the table for Thanksgiving dinner.
Gail will be lovingly missed by her husband, Frankie, of the home; three daughters, Teresa Shrakes (James Woolery) of Ft. Scott, Heidi Dixon (Rob), also of Ft. Scott and DiAnna Dakon (Ronald) of Smithville, Missouri; six grandchildren, Ricky Ann Vargas (Ariel), Austin Shelden, Alek Shelden (Megan), Ashton Dixon, Nickolas Dakon and Skylar Dakan and three great-grandchildren, Lola, Santiago and Laney Vargas. Also surviving is a special cousin, J. R. Stewart (Wendy) of Ft. Scott. Gail was preceded in death by her parents, Harlan Guffey and Velma Walker and a sister, Sharon Park.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, October 12th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Centerville Cemetery. The family will receive friends from5 to 7 P.M. Tuesday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association or the National Kidney Foundation and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
