Gael Mckinstry
September 30, 1939 — October 31, 2023
Gael McKinstry, 84, of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away peacefully on October 31, 2023. Gael,
the eldest of two children, was born on September 30, 1939, to John & Helen McKinstry in
Selma, Alabama. She graduated from Miss Howards School for Girls and went on to earn a
Bachelor's of Arts degree at Sanford University, in Birmingham, Alabama. She also worked on
her masters in history at the University of Washington, St. Louis, Missouri. She was employed
the by US Government in several capacities including 25 years with Social Security.
Gael was predeceased by her father John O. McKinstry and mother Helen Newell McKinstry.
She is survived by her sister Jacquelin McKinstry Wilson, brother-in-law Richard O. Wilson,
grandnephew Donovan Keith Crichton Wilson & his wife Fontaine Westcott Wilson. Great
grandnephews James Moss, Lyon J. Wilson & great grandniece Skyler Westcott.
Gael was an avid reader, world traveler and a life time student of world history. She was a proud
member of Mensa International. Her world travels started after college and continued until her
later years and included a world cruise on the Queen Mary II. Her travels also including Europe
& Asia; staying in hostels and traveling when one could safely hitchhike. In Egypt she rode
camels, walked the Great Wall of China just to mention a few of her amazing adventures.
During the 1960's she was active with the Civil Rights movement in Birmingham, Alabama;
displaying her strong belief in equal rights, which she followed for all her entire life. She was
known for her wonderful stories about travel and history, which charmed so many.
A private celebration of life will be scheduled for next year in Cheaha Mountain State Park,
where she often mentioned that she wanted to be overlooking the view of the Appalachian
Mountains.
She had a spirit of a gypsy, a life style of a hippy, a heart of a Hobbit and will be missed by
many.
Donations to Community Hospice ( https://thefoundationcares.org/give/ ) or the Jacksonville City Rescue Mission ( https://www.crmjax.org/quick-donation/ ), in lieu of flowers
would be appreciated.
the eldest of two children, was born on September 30, 1939, to John & Helen McKinstry in
Selma, Alabama. She graduated from Miss Howards School for Girls and went on to earn a
Bachelor's of Arts degree at Sanford University, in Birmingham, Alabama. She also worked on
her masters in history at the University of Washington, St. Louis, Missouri. She was employed
the by US Government in several capacities including 25 years with Social Security.
Gael was predeceased by her father John O. McKinstry and mother Helen Newell McKinstry.
She is survived by her sister Jacquelin McKinstry Wilson, brother-in-law Richard O. Wilson,
grandnephew Donovan Keith Crichton Wilson & his wife Fontaine Westcott Wilson. Great
grandnephews James Moss, Lyon J. Wilson & great grandniece Skyler Westcott.
Gael was an avid reader, world traveler and a life time student of world history. She was a proud
member of Mensa International. Her world travels started after college and continued until her
later years and included a world cruise on the Queen Mary II. Her travels also including Europe
& Asia; staying in hostels and traveling when one could safely hitchhike. In Egypt she rode
camels, walked the Great Wall of China just to mention a few of her amazing adventures.
During the 1960's she was active with the Civil Rights movement in Birmingham, Alabama;
displaying her strong belief in equal rights, which she followed for all her entire life. She was
known for her wonderful stories about travel and history, which charmed so many.
A private celebration of life will be scheduled for next year in Cheaha Mountain State Park,
where she often mentioned that she wanted to be overlooking the view of the Appalachian
Mountains.
She had a spirit of a gypsy, a life style of a hippy, a heart of a Hobbit and will be missed by
many.
Donations to Community Hospice ( https://thefoundationcares.org/give/ ) or the Jacksonville City Rescue Mission ( https://www.crmjax.org/quick-donation/ ), in lieu of flowers
would be appreciated.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gael Mckinstry, please visit our flower store.