Yvonne Gabos
On Friday, October 9, 2020, Yvonne Rose Gabos, loving wife, mother,
grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend died at the age of 83.
She
passed away peacefully, with her family present, at her Pine Lake
Plainwell home of 63 years, after battling vascular dementia for the
past few years.
Yvonne was born on January 22, 1937, in Kalamazoo, MI, to Leonard Monroe
Harris and Dorthea Rose Harris. Yvonne graduated Kalamazoo Central High
School in 1955 and was proud to be a Maroon Giant. On January 5, 1957,
she married the love of her life, Joseph Edward Gabos. He was her rock
and confidant and most recently the most loving and compassionate
caregiver. Together they raised their two
daughters, Linda French and Gail Vedder, of whom she could not have been
more proud. The joys of her life were her grandchildren. She also loved
gloating about how she didn’t look old enough to be a “great” grandma.
She was dearly loved by many wonderful nieces and nephews.
Yvonne was that lady who couldn’t get through a meal at a local Delton
restaurant without someone coming up to her. They recognized her as
their childhood bus driver (driving 42 years for Delton Kellogg
Schools), their election judge, square dancing friend, or the one who
made their wedding or graduation cake. She loved living in a small town
where basically everyone knew her name.
Yvonne loved many things in life: Baking, sewing, fishing, square
dancing, and saving all of the neighborhood stray cats were among her
favorites.
Her family and friends will always remember her when they see a
hummingbird, a bouquet of carnations (her favorite “because they live so
long”), or while making her signature cake frosting or rhubarb pie. Her
beautiful life and legacy will live on in her family and friends
forever.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard & Dorthea Harris and
her sister, Lorraine Boyd. She is survived by her husband, Joseph Gabos;
brother, Leonard Harris Jr.; daughters, Linda French and Gail Vedder;
grandchildren: Justin (Shona) French, Joshua (Christina)
French, Micaela (Dana) Elzea, Mallory Vedder, and Marley Vedder; and
great grandchildren: Kaylee and Diana French.
