Gail Stanton Cause of Death
After her appearance in Playboy, Gail Stanton became involved in charity work and preventing cruelty to animals. She died two days after her 42nd birthday from complications with a blockage of the colon.
She was playing bridge with friends when her health deteriorated. She returned home from Mexico to die shortly thereafter.
Cause of Death
In addition to her modeling career, Gail Stanton did promotional work for Anheuser-Busch (as Miss Michelob Light) and public relations for the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee. She also acted in a few films, including the film Making the Grade. Stanton died at age 42 in Memphis on November 21, 1996 of complications from a blockage of her colon.
In the summer she sailed and in the winter she skied. Gail was a member of the Women’s Club and the Garden Club and enjoyed hosting dinner parties. Gail was a talented cook and her famous cakes are legendary.
Gail is survived by her husband, Jack, her daughter Cindy, sister-in-law Mary and nephews. She had a great sense of humor, was an accomplished bridge player and loved to travel. Her last trip to Mexico was cut short when her health deteriorated. Gail will be missed by all who knew her. She will be remembered for her love and dedication to family and friends.
Date of Death
She was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis and started to notice that her breath was getting slower and harder. She had a long list of medications and was doing well until she went to Mexico and it just got worse.
She died two days after her 42nd birthday on November 21, 1996 in Memphis, Tennessee of a blockage to the colon. She was born Brenda Gail Stone but changed her name to her stage name Gail Stanton prior to her Playmate of the Month layout in June 1978.
She devoted her life to helping others and was active in many different communities. She was a member of the Hunts Point Service League and Garden Club. She also loved to entertain and was a great cook. She jogged and even skied, was an avid reader and sailed including many voyages in Europe and the Caribbean. She was a good friend and will be missed. She leaves behind her husband and daughter.
Age at Death
The daughter of a Southern Baptist deacon, Brenda Stone changed her name to Gail Stanton before appearing in Playboy’s April 1977 pictorial “The Girls of the New South.” She later did promotional spots for Anheuser-Busch as “Miss Michelob Light” and public relations work for the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee. She also appeared in the 1984 film Making the Grade.
Stratten was a shy and naive model who became very uncomfortable with the casual nudity and sex of the Playboy Mansion. Hefner reportedly befriended her and saw himself as a father figure to the Playmate.
She died two days before her 42nd birthday in 1996 of complications from a blockage to her colon. Her death was a great shock to her family and friends. She was loved by many. She left behind a lasting legacy of beauty and compassion. She created beauty in her gardens, in her homes and in her hearts. Her spirit returned to Port Charles in 1997 to comfort her daughter Serena.
Location of Death
As Gail Stanton, she posed nude for Playboy magazine’s April 1977 pictorial, “The Girls of the New South.” She had changed her name from Brenda Stratten to avoid embarrassment to her deacon father. She also modeled for Anheuser-Busch (she was Miss Michelob), and did public relations work for the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee.
When she arrived in Port Charles as a psychiatrist, it was revealed that she had been Monica Bard’s foster mother. She counseled her as she struggled with her tumultuous love life with both Scott Baldwin and Alan Quartermaine. Eventually Gail became the grandmother to Scott’s daughter Serena Baldwin. She died in November 1996 of a blockage to her colon. She was buried at Blue Grass Memorial Gardens in Jessamine County, just over the border from Lexington. Quincy Brown told the Lexington Herald-Leader that she believed Arnold was responsible for her daughter’s death, but she did not believe his complete account of the event.
