SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Col. Gail N. Liberty, 68, of San Antonio, Texas, died on Sept. 18, at Air Force Village I Health Care Center.

She was born in Rochester, N.H., on Feb. 18, 1938, the daughter of Frederick P. and Margaret (Follansbee) Liberty. Her family moved to Auburn in 1945. She graduated from Edward Little High School as valedictorian of the Class of 1956. She continued her education at the New England Deaconess School of Nursing in Boston, becoming a registered nurse in 1959.

In 1960, she enlisted as a nurse in the Air Force and was commissioned a second lieutenant. She later attended the University of Pennsylvania, receiving a bachelor’s degree in nursing, graduating magna cum laude. In the mid 1970s, she received a master’s degree from Arizona State University. She then attained the designation of nurse practitioner and primary care physician’s assistant.

She served as an Air Force nurse practitioner and physician’s assistant at various bases in the U.S. and overseas. In 1965, she started a two-year tour of duty as a flight nurse, serving as a member of the medical crew on aero medical evacuation flights from Vietnam to hospitals in Japan, the Philippines, Hawaii and the United States.

She received many awards and commendations during her 25-year career: Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with five oak leaf clusters and other professional commendations.

During the early years of her Air Force career, she took up competitive pistol shooting. She won 22 national and international medals, including a national championship at Camp Perry and tied for first at the international matches in Cairo, Egypt. She was inducted into both the Lewiston-Auburn Sports Hall of Fame and the Maine Sports Hall of Fame and was also recognized twice as Air Force Athlete of the year. In 1988, she was honored as San Antonio Outstanding Woman in Sports.

She is survived by two brothers, Frederick of Auburn and Normand and his wife, Judy, of Yarmouth; a nephew, Frederick lives in Olympia, Wash.; her niece, Lisa Liberty Becker and her husband, Robert and their children, True and Tate live in Concord, Mass.

She was predeceased by her parents, Frederick P. and Margaret Liberty.