Mary Ann Gabbard

Mary Ann was born in Cottonwood Idaho in 1934 to George and Hilda Sprute. She received her degree as a Registered Nurse from the Columbus School of Nursing in Great Falls, Montana. It was while she was in Montana that she met her husband Douglas B Gabbard who was a student at Montana State University. They were married in 1954, and relocated to San Diego in 1960.

Mary worked as a Registered Nurse for several years in the San Diego area before taking her first role in education as a teacher at the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in San Diego. She left Mercy in 1969 to take a Nurse/Teacher position at Marian High School in Imperial Beach, which coincided with her first daughter beginning 9th grade there. Mary Ann would go on to stay at Marian until her retirement in 2004. Each of her eight children attended Marian

Mary Ann loved to play the piano and was very involved in music programs at MHS contributing her time to many plays like Godspell and The Music Man. She also headed up several student programs including the drill team which she started with just a few girls.

Mary Ann was beloved by those she touched, making a positive, lasting impression on many of the teachers, parents and children she encountered and taught at MHS, where her legacy endures.

Mary Ann is survived by 2 brothers, 2 sisters 6 children, 6 children in-law, 19 grandchildren, 10 grandchildren in-law and 17 great grandchildren. Her family was always her greatest source of joy and she spent her retired years splitting time between Southern California and North Carolina where she spent most of her time with her kids, grand kids and great grand kids.

Memorial gifts may be made to Mater Dei Catholic High School in Chula Vista.

Funeraria Del Angel Chula Vista (Humphrey) has been entrusted with arrangements.