Marion Halsey (Search) Gabonay

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Marion Halsey (Search) Gabonay, 90, of Greencastle, passed away on Sunday, June 28, 2015.

She was born in Bangor, Maine, the second of four daughters, to William and Alice Search.

Marion spent the early years of her life in Greencastle while her father taught physical education at DePauw University. The family moved to Waveland, where she graduated from high school, immediately followed by enrollment at Indiana Business College in Indianapolis.

Her first career job was as a secretary at RCA in Indianapolis. Following this, along with her sister Sandi, she spent a year at Indiana University with the idea of pursuing a nursing career. Upon further consideration, Marion returned to the workforce and accepted a position with the F.L. Jacobs Company in Indianapolis as an administrative assistant in the Traffic Office. Among other duties, the job involved a great deal of pain-staking statistics typing.

It was at Jacobs that she met her future husband, William Gabonay. The couple was married in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis on Nov. 29, 1947.

While raising their four boys in Beech Grove, Marion worked a series of part-time jobs as a bookkeeper. Not long after her husband's retirement from Eli Lilly in 1976, the couple moved to Greencastle and found their country paradise on Dunbar Heights.

During this time, Marion was employed by IBM, the County Treasurer's Office and DePauw University, where her dad had taught and coached some 50 years previously.

As most who read this obituary know well, Marion loved being with other people and generously sharing her talents, energy and enthusiasm. She was an active member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church Ladies Guild, the Tuesday Reading Circle and DePauw Retiree Group.

Upon their move to Spring Tree Square Condominiums and during their 12 years there, Marion was a contributing member of the association. She and Bill made many wonderful friends and thoroughly enjoyed living in the heart of Greencastle.

Since late 2011, Marion resided at Asbury Towers Retirement Community where she continued to share her cheerful and loving spirit with co-residents and staff.

Mrs. Gabonay is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Paul Gabonay (Susan), Will Gabonay (Carol), Jim Gabonay and Tom Gabonay (Carol); grandchildren and spouses, Anne Frank, MD (Joe), Jeff Gabonay (Alison), Sarah and Kevin Gabonay; great grandchildren Nora and William Frank and Emery Gabonay; sisters Pauline "Sandi" Glasscock (William) and Virginia Search; sisters-in-law Doris and Julie Gabonay; nieces, nephews and their families; and many dear friends.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home, 602 E. Washington St., Greencastle, from 10 a.m.-noon on Friday, July 3, with a time of remembrance at noon. A brief interment service will take place at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 6, at Holy Cross Cemetery, 246 S. Meridian Street, Indianapolis.

Contributions may be made to St. Paul the Apostle Church (Eucharistic Ministry and Ladies Guild), 202 E. Washington Street, Greencastle, IN 46135, or Asbury Towers Retirement Community (Flower Fund), 102 W. Poplar Street, Greencastle, IN 46135, or one's favorite charity.

Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family c/o www.BittlesandHurt.com.