Obituary of Gail Danforth Peake

Gail Danforth Peake, 70, of Jefferson, passed away suddenly Saturday morning, March 5, 2016 at the family homestead. Born on August 21, 1945 in Stamford, she was the daughter of the late George R. and Marietta (Rickard) Danforth. Mrs. Peake was a 1963 Graduate of Jefferson Central School and 1966 Graduate of SUCO Oneonta with a Bachelor's Degree in Education. She married David B. Peake on June 10, 1967, and her teaching career began in Des Moines, Iowa while her husband finished college. While David served in the Marine Corps, the couple moved throughout the country and Gail taught elementary school at various schools during their travels. She taught in Los Angeles while David served in Vietnam, and upon his return, they relocated to Hawaii where she continued to teach. They returned to her family farm in Jefferson in 1975 right before the birth of their daughter, Shannon. Gail then taught elementary school locally and retired from Gilboa-Conesville Central School in 2009 after a devoted 43 year teaching career. In her retirement the family started Cowbella LLC, located at the Danforth Jersey Farm in Jefferson, where love is always their main ingredient in continuing a family tradition that has spread seven generations. In her free time, Gail enjoyed cooking, knitting, sewing, and traveling, especially to her vacation home on the coast of Maine; she was a talented designer and designed their farm's "Daisy and Clover" display for the Schoharie Barn Quilt Trail. She also loved playing games around the table like bridge, Upwords, and pinochle with her family and friends. Above all else Gail was dedicated to her family. She was a loving wife, supportive mother, proud grandmother and loving sister. Besides her husband David, she is survived by her children: Shannon (Hamilton) Mason of Jefferson and Christina (Jared) Wood of Delhi; grandchildren: Augustus Mason, Daisy Mason, Caroline Grace, and Hannah Wood; Brothers: Russell Danforth of Jefferson and Alan (Rosalie) Danforth of Cobleskill; a sister: Nadine (George) Wilson of Gilboa; uncle: Paul Danforth of Oneonta; also several nieces, nephews and cousins. Friends and relatives are invited to call on the family from 4-8PM on Friday, March 11 at the MacArthur Funeral Home, 40 Cornell Ave., Hobart. Funeral services will be held at 11AM on Saturday, March 12 at Jefferson United Methodist Church, 158 Main Street, Jefferson. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Jefferson. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship (CADE) in Oneonta, or to the Jefferson Rescue Squad. Please visit www.macarthurfh.com to share a condolence or story with the family.