Stephen Gabbert

04/05/1952 - 12/12/2021 James Stephen (Steve) Gabbert, Sr., 69, of Sedona, Arizona, passed away peacefully on December 12, 2021 due to complications from pneumonia. Steve was a devoted husband, wonderful father, and doting grandfather. Most of all, Steve was fun personified. Once you met Steve, you became his instant friend. He was always the life of the party with his quick wit and sarcastic nature, coupled with his positive personality. No amount of trauma or bad luck ever dimmed his optimistic attitude. He woke up with a smile and went to bed with the same smile, irrespective of what life threw at him during the day. It was impossible to feel down when you were around Steve. He was the eternal hippie at heart, wearing his hair long just because he could. Born in Whittier, CA, Steve lived most of his life in Redlands, CA, where at the age of 14 he met his future bride and the love of his life, Cathy. They were married 46 wonderful years and were blessed with two children, Rachel and James. Steve worked for All Coast Forest Products for 30 years, excelling as a salesman and retiring in 2011. In 2017, he and Cathy moved permanently to Sedona, a place he loved and in which he felt a very special family connection. Steve is survived by his wife, Catherine Adams Gabbert, of Sedona, daughter Rachel Gabbert Roberts (Garrett) of Lemoore, CA, son James Stephen Gabbert, Jr. (fiancé Bailey) of Lynnwood, WA, and grandson Robert Gregory Gabbert of Lynnwood, WA. Besides his immediate family, his loss is deeply felt by his mother-in-law, Darlene J. Adams, of San Diego, CA, sisters-in-law and spouses Adrienne Orfield (Michael) of San Diego, CA, Carol Pharo (Stephen) of Vancouver, WA, Lisa McIntire (Scott) of La Verne, CA, Patty Mercier (Dave) of Redlands, CA, and nieces Melissa McIntire Fukushima (David), Candace McIntire, Sarah Orfield, Rebecca Orfield Gilmore (Kayden), Hilary Braxton, and April Pharo, and nephew Vince Pharo. He was predeceased by his father Carlton Gabbert, his mother Mollie Gabbert, sisters Karen and Rebecca Gabbert, and his father-in-law Col. Vincent O. Adams, Jr. Due to COVID, there will be no services.