Wandell (Davis) Gabey

wandell-davis-gabey

Wandell (Davis) Gabey died unexpectedly on Wednesday January 19th, 2022. She was born in Prairie Creek, Indiana, to Francis Leon Davis and Wanda Maxine Davis. She was Valedictorian of the Prairie Creek High School Class of 1955 and attended Indiana State University. She was a member of the Prairie Creek Church of Christ where she was baptized and attended Northside Church of Christ in Terre Haute. She was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, John Robert “Bob” Gabey, her parents, a sister, Nancy Hodges, and a granddaughter, Erin Elizabeth. Survivors include two brothers, Gary (Coleen) Davis of South Carolina, Dudley (Paula) Davis of Indiana, three daughters, Sheree (Reed) Gordon, Julee Allen and Loree (Steve) Thompson of Texas, three grand-daughters, Lyndsey (Brett) Ratliff, Lisa (Matt) Sauter of Texas, and Lauren (Justin) Bates of California, three grandsons, Conner Gordon, Scotty Thompson of Texas and Robby Allen of Illinois, five great grandchildren, William and Lillian Ratliff, Hannah and Ethan Sauter of Texas and Ava and Evelyn Bates of California as well as several nieces and nephews Also, surviving are dearest friends Tim and Della Thacker of Brazil, Indiana and their children, Wade (Shaye) Thacker of Terre Haute and Kylee (Jordan) Maurer of Columbus, Indiana, Bahamian son, Richie Adderley and Italian son Giorgio (Maria) Mormino.

Wandell was a Life Member of Camp Wabashi, a Christian Camp for youth and the Woman’s Department Club of Terre Haute. She was a founder and charter member of the Merry Moms Home Economics Club in Prairie Creek. She served as a Board Member of the Volunteer Action Center, Hyte Community Center, Leadership Terre Haute, and Arts Illiana. She also served as Secretary of the Terre Haute Symphany League, President of Planned Parenthood, Vice-President of the Council on Domestic Abuse, and Secretary of Community Theatre of Terre Haute. She was a member of the Terre Haute South High School Booster Club and the Indiana State University Sycamore Varsity Club. She was a member of the CT Boosters and helped determine funding allocations for United Way Agencies. She was Advisor of the Junior Department of the Terre Haute Woman’s Department Club and Girls Softball Coach for the Prairie Creek Youth Recreation Association. She was a member of the Vigo County 4-H Council and the Girl Scout Leader of Brownie Troop 429, Junior Troop 104, Cadette Troop 313, and Senior Troop 303.

She was active in the Miss America Scholarship Program and served as traveling Companion for Miss Indiana to the Miss America competition in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and was a hostess for the Miss Indiana State Pageant held in Terre Haute. As a Miss America certified judge, she judged local Outstanding Teen and Miss Pageants in Indiana and Nebraska along with Festival Queen Pageants and Miss Montana and Miss Wyoming State Pageants.

Wandell and her family hosted several exchange students from Kenya, Australia, Denmark, Belgium, Nigeria, Italy, and the Bahamas. She loved traveling to many countries often visiting former students. She also visited Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, England, France, Belgium, Australia, several Caribbean Islands, and many states. She was a participant in Intercambio trips to the Yucatan to build schoolhouses and community buildings in Mayan villages and Guatemalan refuge camps. After completing twenty-five years as Plant Manager of a sewing factory, she retired from Indiana State University after sixteen years. While at ISU she was elected chair of the Support Staff Council and was awarded the Presidential University Medallion for exceptional service to the University and her community, as well as the Prisms of Diversity Advocate Award and the M.A.P.S. Mentor of the Year Award. She was selected by her colleagues one year to lead Leadership Terre Haute as Program Coordinator. She received the Alan Rankin Award given for outstanding service to that organization.

She taught swimming for 3-year-olds at the YWCA when it was on 7th street in Terre Haute. She also taught sewing classes and sewed chenille lettering and athletic uniforms on a part time basis. She was an avid reader, enjoyed sewing, swimming, theater and attending sporting events. She also loved doing crossword puzzles and all kinds of research.

Visitation will be Thursday, February 3 from 4-8 pm with a Celebration of Life on Friday, February 4th, 2022, at 10:00 am at Greiner Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Durham Cemetery.

The family kindly requests that flowers be omitted and, if desired, memorial contributions be made to Camp Wabashi, 3525 Harlan Drive, Terre Haute, IN 47802.

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