Gae Ann Mead

Gae Ann Mead, 56, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, passed away March 10, 2011, in Aurora, Colorado. She was born August 8, 1954 in Salt Lake City, Utah, daughter of Coit E. and Juanita Astin Erickson. Gae grew up with her loving family in Salt Lake City. She enjoyed being around friends, skiing and of course, shopping. One of Gae's favorite mottos was ""Shop Until You Drop"". In her early twenties she became a buyer for Grand Central and enjoyed every minute of it. It was at Grand Central that Gae met the love of her life, Marshall, and on February 5, 1983 they were married. In July of 1986 Marshall, Gae, and daughter Melissa Ann moved to Denver to start a new adventure. Gae worked for The Limited Stores as a retail manager for 10 years. After their youngest daughter Megan Nicole was born n 1993, Gae decided to stop working and devote even more time to her family. Gae's passion for her family was one of her greatest attributes. She loved watching her daughters grow up and begin to plan their own lives. Gae was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1995 and her determination to beat the disease was inspiring. She and Marshall used every resource available to overcome the effects of this progressive disease. In the end the physical damage to her body and to her immune system was too great and she succumbed in the early evening hours with her family at her side. In remembrance, the family would like her friends to consider possible donations to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in support of research into curing this disease. Gae is survived by her loving husband, Marshall Roger Mead; daughters, Melissa Ann Mead and Megan Nicole Mead; step-children, Roger Neil Lincoln Mead, Christina Louise Ayton, Corina Anne Shipp and Jamie Mae Peters; eleven grandchildren; mother, Juanita Erickson; brothers, Mark E. and Dean M. Erickson; and many other loving extended family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Coit Erickson and by her brother, Brian T. Erickson. Funeral services for Gae will be held on Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 11:00am, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9800 Foothills Canyon Blvd., Highlands Ranch, CO. 80129. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery, in Rifle, Colorado, Saturday March 19, 2011. To share memories of Gae and condolences with her family, click on the ""sign guestbook"" tab below.