Gail Ann Heiden was the first child of Richard Lee and Thelma (Clark) Heiden. She was born on September 29, 1954 in Lansing, Michigan and died in an automobile accident on March 2, 1961 in Lansing at the age of 6.

There are two Gail Heidens in the early generations. One, Gail Ann who died at the age of 6 in 1961 was the daughter of Richard Lee Heiden . The other is Gail Mildred, daughter of Arthur and Mildred Heiden.