Sarah Nell Gabriel

Sarah Nell Gabriel of Grand Junction, Colorado went home to Jesus on August 10, 2025, after living over 101 years on this earth. There was a huge celebration in heaven when she was met by so many of her family and friends that had the privilege of knowing and loving her before God took them home.
Sarah, above all else loved her Lord and was an active member of the Patterson Road Church of Christ. Sarah was born on December 20,1923 in Graford Texas to Cornelius and Nellie O tree. She was born into a family of 5 siblings. First, there was a boy and then came 4 girls in a row. She was told that her dad said "for heaven's SAKE another girl" upon her arrival. For the rest of her life, she was lovingly called "Aunt Sake" by all her nieces and nephews and just "Sake" by many other family and friends. Following her birth the family was blessed with 2 more boys and 1 girl. In later years after her first grandchild was born, she took on the name, "Granny" and it was the joy of her life to be called that by her 6 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, and 8 great, great grandchildren. She took on the role and was called "Granny" by many friends and family throughout the rest of her life.

Sarah met Mike Gabriel while working at the PX at Camp Walters in Mineral Wells Texas. Mike was on active duty in the United States Army and upon seeing Sarah said to a friend "that's the girl I'm going to marry". Mike and Sarah were united in marriage on September 5,1944 and were truly devoted to one another until Mike's passing in 2000.Mike and Sarah left Texas in 1946 and headed to Colorado with her brother Doyle and his wife Louise, sister Lois and her husband Sam hoping for better job opportunities. The men left ahead of them and the brave women with small children boarded a train full of soldiers and headed to Northwestern Colorado. 

Eventually they all ended up in Rangely in a muddy mess to work in the oil field. Lois and Sam headed back to Texas, but Sarah, Mike, Doyle and Lou braved the elements and raised their families in Rangely and adapted to small town living. Mike and Sarah were blessed with three daughters: Victoria Sue, Pamela June, and Mary Lou.

Sarah loved golf and she and Mike enjoyed playing for over 30 years, which led to many lifelong friends and lasting relationships. She also loved to fish. We always joked about her arthritic fingers making a perfect holder for her fishing line as she trolled for trout on Vega Lake. Sarah is survived by her daughters, Pam Oldham (Kent), Grand Junction and Mary Row (Mark), Fruita, her sister, Sue Lemley, Graford, Texas, 4 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, 8 great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews that meant the world to her. Sarah was preceded in death by her husband, Mike, her daughter, Vicky, her granddaughter, Andrea, her grandson, Chris, her grandson in-law, Marty, seven of her siblings, and many more family members and friends. She would say she outlived all her doctors too. Sarah leaves a legacy of love and fond memories and has touched many lives in her 101 plus years. There will be a Celebration of a Life well lived on Friday, August 22d at 10 am at the Grand Junction Church of Christ, 2893 Patterson Road, Grand Junction, CO. After a short reception, Interment will follow at Orchard Mesa Cemetery, 2620 Legacy Way, Grand Junction. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Roice Hurst Humane Society, 362 28 Road, Grand Junction, CO 81501 or Mountain States Children's Home,14780 N. 107*h St., Longmont, CO 80504