2 years ago

Ruby Raef Gabel
1928 - 2022

Ruby Raef Gabel, age 94, of Amarillo, went to be with her Lord pm Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022, in Amarillo.

A rosary will be said at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at Schooler Funeral Home, Brentwood Chapel. Funeral Mass will be at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 10 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. Celebrant will be Rev. John Valdez. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery with arrangements by Schooler Funeral Home.

Ruby was born July 8, 1928 in Panhandle, one of eleven children, to her parents Inez Jackson and Charles F. Raef. She graduated from Panhandle High School in 1946. That was also the year she married the love of her life, Vernon Gabel on July 24, at St. Francis Catholic Church. The couple raised their four children while farming in Hereford, Vega and Wildorado before giving up the farm life and moving to “town” in 1955.

Once the children started school Ruby started cooking at St. Laurence Catholic School cafeteria where she became cafeteria manager and worked for over 20 years. After retiring from St. Laurence, she began working in the cafeteria at the Bivin’s Nursing Home where she continued to serve others and prepare meals.

Ruby had a talent in the kitchen and could create the most incredible meals and desserts. She was famous for her velvet cake, divinity, fudge, and date nut logs. She enjoyed cooking for others and sharing her talent with everyone. In addition to cooking, Ruby and Vernon both loved baseball. They loved the Texas Rangers and were season ticket holders to the Amarillo Gold Socks attending every game.

She was a devoted and beloved member of St. Laurence, and later of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. Ruby was an important member of the Body of Christ, serving others selflessly. She served on the Altar Societies, was a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Catholic Daughters, where she served as an officer. One of her favorite things was Adoration at the church, she cherished the time she spent alone praying for others, only giving it up when she could no longer drive.

Ruby was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Vernon in 1983; by three sisters, Ann Lewter, Edith Beckman and Opal Walterscheid; her brothers, Frank, Leo, Fred, Edmond, Lawrence and James Raef.

She is survived by her son, Eddie Joe Gabel and his wife Gwen of Amarillo; her three daughters, Judy and her husband, Larry Cox of Amarillo, Joyce and her husband, Rudy Dudley of Lone Star, and Elaine and her husband, Terry Hargis of Amarillo; her sister, Pearl Berres of Lubbock; 14 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.