Alice Gabbert

Alice Maxine (Johnstone) Gabbert, 93, of sabetha passed away on Saturday, July 14, 2007 at the sabetha Manor.

Alice was born the daughter of Harry and Rella (Neff) Johnstone in Kelly, KS on Friday, September 19, 1913. In her early life, her family had temporarily moved to the Campus-Oakley area of western Kansas, before moving back to nemaha County and purchasing the general store in Bancroft. Alice graduated from Bancroft High School with the class of 1932 before attending Emporia State Teachers College to obtain her state teacher's certificate, and began her teaching career in a one room country school in nemaha County that fall. She later went on to finish her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Education at washburn University.

In 1946, Alice began teaching the 3rd and 4th grades in goff and when the family moved to Topeka in 1956 she taught 5th grade at Rochester Elementary School in Topeka. She retired in 1978 after serving her community for 21 years. After a long record of teaching, her impact on the community was most apparent to her family when former students from nemaha County or Topeka would stop to talk to her during routine outings.

Alice married Francis A. Gabbert on Wednesday, August 5, 1936 in Soldier, KS. He survives of the home.

From their joint retirement in 1978 until 2000, Alice and Francis spent their winter months in Indian Lake, TX. She was also a member of Eastern Star.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Jack Johnstone and brother-in-law, Cele Aziere.

She is survived by her loving husband of 70 years, Francis; son, Gale and wife, Brigitte Gabbert of Windcrest, TX; sister, June Aziere of Tulsa, OK; sisters-in-law, Frances Johnstone of centralia and Maude Gabbert of Wenatchee, WA; 12 nephews and 3 nieces.

Funeral service will be Friday, July 20, 2007 at 10:30 am at the popkess Mortuary in sabetha. The family will receive friends for visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at the goff Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society in care of the funeral home.