Gale C. Trees

Gale C. Trees passed away Monday, July 17, 2023 at York Hospital in York, Maine where Gale and his soulmate, Linda Trees, have lived by the ocean since 2019. Gale fought a long, brave battle with Parkinson’s Disease for the past three years. Linda loved, honored, and adored him with all her heart every day of their 41 years of marriage. Lovingly known as “Butch,” Gale cherished spending every magical moment with Linda, his kids and his siblings.

Born October 14, 1943 in Caspian, Michigan to the late Fred and Esther (Migazzi) Trees, Gale was raised in Milford Center, Ohio and graduated from Fairbanks High School. He was a strong believer in the Catholic faith and attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Marysville, Ohio. Gale worked at Denison Hydraulics as their Shipping Clerk for 42 years.

Gale studied at Urbana College where he played basketball and held several athletic records. He was a dedicated high school girls’ softball fast pitch umpire for 45 years and was inducted into the Ohio ASA/USA Softball Hall of Fame in 2016. In addition, he umpired for Honda of America in Marysville’s coed ball tournaments. Gale had a reputation for being a good and fair umpire. He was an avid outdoorsman who had a passion for hunting and fishing and kept a well-groomed, lush green Ohio lawn. After retirement, to keep himself busy, he worked part time at Big Lots where he made everyone’s day by reaching all the things on the top shelves!

In addition to his parents, Gale was predeceased by his grandparents, Chet and Wyllie Trees; brother, Gene Trees; and cousins, Mike and Dan Stillings.

Gale is survived by his loving wife Linda Smith Hoopes Trees; his sisters, Judith Brake, Carson (Dick) Stratton of Marysville; his brother, Grayling (Sandra) Trees of Marseille, France; his son, Brad (Geno) Trees of Upper Arlington; his daughter, Melissa (Buck) DeLong of Delaware; his stepson, Billy (Helen) Hoopes of Colorado Springs; his stepdaughter, Carrie (Kyle) Hoopes Cieliczka of York; grandchildren, Amy (Nick) Hoopes, Campbell and Kate Cieliczka, Alycia (Josh) Jameson, Aishat, Nkosinathinu and Lonwabo Gazal, Sammy (Cameron) Moody, Damon (Virginia) and Dustin Clippinger; nieces, Michelle (Randy) Marshall and Adrienne (Landon) Leatherman; nephews Loren Green, Jean Luc (Barbara) and Josue Trees; cousins Bill Coughenour and David and Tom Gregg; great nieces and nephews; as well as many, many special friends who kept in touch with Gale throughout his illness.

As per Gale’s wishes, there will be no service and in lieu of flowers friends are asked to donate to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. www.michaeljfox.org. Butch will be greatly missed by all who loved him.

Special thanks to Scott & Holly Underwood of Marysville, Ohio, Lucas & Eaton of York, Maine and the entire staff of the York Hospital ICU for their loving kindness.

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