Ruby Isabella (Raef) Gabel

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

A rosary will be said at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, August 9 at Schooler Funeral Home, Brentwood Chapel.  The funeral mass will be at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, August 10 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. Celebrant will be Rev. John Valdez.   Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.  Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 South Georgia

Ruby was born July 8, 1928 in Panhandle, one of eleven children, to her parents Charles F. and Inez Jackson 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 ^th 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 twenty 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 Cox and her husband Larry of Amarillo, Joyce Dudley and her husband Rudy of Lone Star, and Elaine Hargis and her husband Terry of Amarillo; her sister Pearl Berres of Lubbock; fourteen grandchildren; twenty-nine great-grandchildren; and nine great- great grandchildren.