Max Gabbard

Max Gabbard, 89 of Selah, Washington, passed away August 19, 2024, at home with his daughter Renell at his side. Dad was born to Loyce and Alene Gabbard in Coweta, Oklahoma June 12th, 1935. The family moved to Washington State in the early 1940’s and have resided here ever since. Dad graduated from Yakima High in 1954, the same year he married Mom, and they were married for 69 ½ years. Dad and Mom bought the property on Johnson Road, on Dad's birthday in 1958 and moved in on the 4th of July weekend. Dad took that old two-story house that did not even have inside plumbing and remodeled it into our home. During the remodel, as dad was cutting thru a wall to add an addition, he went thru multiple layers of wallpaper and found a Swedish newspaper telling of President Lincoln’s assassination. In August of 1966, that house was destroyed in a fire. Dad, with the help of his sons and many friends with whom he traded work, built the current place going off a picture Dad had seen in a magazine. Dad had a passion for building things. He left his mark on many buildings in Yakima, from small car washes to the restoration of the Capitol Theatre. Dad's company, Max Gabbard Construction, that he ran with two of his sons, specialized in building controlled atmosphere rooms and freezers. These buildings, of which there were hundreds, were constructed from Bellingham, Washington, to Delta, Colorado, with many stops in Oregon and Idaho. The company also built several wineries, including Columbia Crest in Patterson, Washington, which he was very proud of. Dad was an excellent teacher and with the skills and knowledge he passed on, several of his employees were able to start businesses of their own. Dad had several grandkids and was especially close with his granddaughters. A few ended up living remarkably close. He was able watch many of his great grandkids grow up and was expecting to be a great great grandfather in a few weeks. Dad and his granddaughter Leah had a special bond. The two of them were co-conspirators for doing things not necessarily approved of and were best friends. Dad looked forward to his time with Lyndsay, giving him his weekly shave and "sprucing up." Family was extremely important to Dad. Every year for 35 plus years he would treat the family to a trip to Seaside, Oregon. These were not just immediate families, but usually included his brothers and their wives, nieces, and nephews. Once he brought half of Oklahoma up for a family reunion. Dad was known for his signature grey Max Gabbard Const hat, he never left home without one and his white T-shirts. He was always addressed as Max, or Dad, or even Grandpa by many people who were not even related to him. Dad is survived by his 3 sons, Randy (Sue), Ray (Dorothy), Ryan, and his daughter Renell Neveu (Pat), 16 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by wife Beverly, his youngest son Reid, his grandson Josh, his parents and three brothers, Leroy, Ronnie, and Dana and several nieces and nephews. We cannot list everything that Dad accomplished or the good that Mom and he did; to do so would take a full page. Dad, you were loved by many and will be missed more than you know. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Max Gabbard, please visit our flower store.