Christine Gabbard left this world to go home to the Lord and her mother on July 28, 2012.
She was born on Houston Creek Road in Breathitt County on Feb. 27, 1955, and was the daughter of the late Rev. Virgil and Martha Gabbard.
Chris was the loving wife, confidant, partner and best friend of her husband of a too short 27 and half years Edward Gabbard; mother of two daughters, Joyce (Mike) Kelsay, Jennifer (Ben) Wright; and a son, Bobby Haddix.
She was the loving grandmother of Jonica Davis, Kyle Kelsay, Kayla Kelsay, Tommy Wright, Jackson Wright, Mason Wright, Hunter Clay Wright, Dylan Patrick Wright and Delaney Haddix; and close friend of Melanie Gabbard, whom she thought of as a sister and whom showed incredible support throughout their friendship.
Chris loved to travel, read and garden. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biology with honors from Eastern Kentucky University, a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Northern Kentucky University and a Master in Arts in Education from Eastern Kentucky University.
After beginning her career as a chemist with Ef-Atochem and then Keebler Manufacturing, she decided her talents could be better utilized educating children to make the world a better place for them and our future.
Chris began her teaching career at Franklin County High School teaching biology, but felt the need to return to her home of eastern Kentucky to teach chemistry at Jackson Independent High School to improve the lives of the children she felt needed someone to not only educate them, but to also help them learn to believe in themselves and realize any dream or goal can be accomplished with hard work and determination.
She finished her teaching career at Montgomery County High School eaching students that anything was possible, even passing algebra. Many of her former students credit her for becoming doctors, lawyers, military academy appointees and even educators. Her greatest reward in teaching was observing the moment when a child could understand a concept that they had been struggling with and seeing the look of achievement in their faces, and former students telling her how she helped their lives.
Chris is also survived by her mother-in-law, Della (Ken) Baker, whom she thought of as a mother; brother-in-law, Paul Gabbard; sisters, Helen (Roger) James, Norma (Johnny) Gross, Lois (Bruce) Brindley, Anna (Barry) Morris, Evangeline Gabbard and Elizabeth Roberts; and brothers, Howard (Lois) Gabbard and J.B. Gabbard; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by two sisters and a brother.
A celebration of her life will be at Herald & Stewart Home for Funerals in Mount Sterling on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. with a private family service at the graveside.
