Gayl Velda Lovell was born on February 13, 1923, at Shelton, Jefferson County, Idaho, a small crossroads community near Ririe. She was the daughter of John Hiram “Hi” Lovell and Velda Annie Perry Lovell. She attended school in Ririe and earned a nursing degree through Ricks College’s two-year program.

Gayl worked as a registered nurse at the Idaho Falls LDS Hospital, where she served on the night shift — 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., five nights a week — and eventually rose to night supervisor. Her mother Velda described her as one of the best nurses in Idaho Falls, and a prominent local doctor said the same. She retired from nursing after suffering her first stroke, around age 45, and eventually became wheelchair-bound after several additional strokes.

She married Ivan Walker Harker on August 8, 1944, in Bay City, Michigan. They had two sons: Van Glenn (1945) and Norman John (1948). The marriage ended in divorce around 1960. Around 1962, while Norman was in eighth grade, Gayl married Mike Richins, eloping with him to Elko, Nevada.

During her years in Idaho Falls, Gayl was a devoted card player, organizing regular pinochle games with her friends Deline Winchester and Donna. She enjoyed watching the Atlanta Braves — particularly Dale Murphy — and followed her soap operas. She was known for her closeness to her mother Velda, and in her later years she and Mike Richins moved into Velda’s 21st Street house in Idaho Falls to help care for her. After Velda’s death in 1999, Gayl continued to live in Idaho Falls.

Gayl Lovell Harker Richins died on August 31, 2001, in Idaho Falls. She was buried at Pioneer Cemetery, Rigby, Jefferson County, Idaho, beside her husband Mike Richins.