Gwen Marie Thornock Gabert, born June 3, 1930, to Leon and Helen Gardner Thornock in Blackfoot, died at her Nampa home surrounded by family, November 26, 2017, after a three and half month fight with pancreatic cancer.  She rarely complained of pain and kept her sense of humor to the end.

Mom cherished her “routines”:  “liking” all of the grandkids’ Facebook posts over coffee with Em and Rick every morning; attending the LDS Church on Sunday, talking to her cats—Tinker, Betsy, and Rascal; crocheting—every family member has an afghan; attending the yearly family reunions; reading the second-hand newspapers; feeding and watching hummingbirds on the back deck;  and decorating graves with her sister Nola. 

Some highlights of Mom’s life include growing up during the Great Depression; riding to school on a dogsled after she broke her leg; living in California to attend high school her junior year where she won many awards in homemaking skills; catching a salmon that bent a steel fishing rod; teaching sewing and craft activities as an incredible 4-H leader; being a member/president/district director of Business Professional Women; driving to Alaska with her husband Ed;  joining the Black Powder Club at age 80, and going to Hawaii with Cal’s family.

After her children were grown, Mom enjoyed work at Valley Pump and Equipment in Emmett, until she retired nearly 25 years ago and moved with Dad to the corner of Ron and Judy’s farm in Nampa.  Em and Rick lived behind her and gave her great care.

Mom is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Emilie and Rick Lind and their daughters, Kari Dopkins, Tammi Leatham, and Kimberli Reynolds; daughter and son-in-law, Judy Gabert and Ron Rush and their sons, Jordan Gabert Rush, Adam Rush, and Cameron Rush; son and daughter-in-law, Calvin and Nancy Gabert and their daughters, Calcy Jaquess, Brooke Coker, and Camille Konneker.  She is also survived by her brother Nyle Thornock and sisters Nola Phillips and Jonni Davis, as well 11 great-grandchildren.  Preceding her in death were her parents Leon Thornock and Helen Thornock Ziegler; her siblings Maxine Pfieffer, Bill Thornock, and Clair Thornock; her first grandchild, Christian Lind, and her husband of nearly 63 years, Ed Gabert.  In addition, she leaves behind a special friend, Oscar Rogers, who joined us for many activities and nephew Allan Gabert who had dinner with her nearly every night since the onset of her illness. She especially loved her truly awesome LDS Church family.

Mom, we look forward to sitting with you as you feed the heavenly hummingbirds so save us a seat on the porch swing.  

A celebration of life will be held 3:00 PM Saturday, December 16, 2017 at Tree City Church of the Nazarene, 3852 N Eagle Rd, Boise, Idaho.