On Monday, July 7, 2025, at 78 years old, Johnnie Dell Gaberdiel was called home. After a life of hard work and service to those around him, God welcomed John into eternal rest, knowing that his work on earth was complete.

John was born in Cordell, Oklahoma on December 16, 1946 to George and Vivian Jones. He was adopted by Lawrence (Bud) Gaberdiel when he was four and considered Bud his dad. John spent his childhood years in western Oklahoma, as Bud moved the family to follow jobs in the oil patch. John graduated from Cordell High School and joined the U.S. Navy shortly after graduation. He proudly served his country during the Vietnam War.

After leaving the Navy, John began a long and colorful career, starting in California and ending up back in Oklahoma. John was a jack of many trades and master of most – steam mechanic, speaker designer, oil field equipment technician, casket manufacturer, and hydraulic engineer, to name a few. For the past ten years of his career, John was nationally known as an expert in rebuilding outdated hydraulic presses.

Shortly after returning to Oklahoma in the mid-seventies, John met the love of his life, Mary Jo Stewart; they enjoyed over 40 years together before her death in 2014. John enthusiastically embraced the role of father to Mary's two daughters, Debbie and Carissa. John was a wonderful husband and father and loved his family dearly.

John accepted Christ's gift of salvation at 63. Once the Holy Spirit got hold of him, he was on fire for the Lord! John faithfully read his Bible at least once a day, attended church pretty much every time the doors were open, and shared his faith openly with everyone he met.

John embodied all the qualities of a true servant of God – kindness, generosity, optimism, joy, faithfulness, fun-loving, inquisitive nature, industrious spirit. He could fix anything, and usually, redesigned it in the process. In the last several years, as his health declined, if you asked John how he was doing, he would smile sweetly and say "Just peachy." He will be missed by many, but we all celebrate his triumphant arrival in Heaven!

John was preceded in death by his father, Bud Gaberdiel; mother, Vivian Frederick; wife, Mary; sister, Velinda Mitchell, and sister, Janice Jay.

He is survived by daughter, Debbie Dickson and husband Mark; daughter, Carissa Tate; brother, Phil Gaberdiel; niece, Sherri Muzny and husband David; nephew, Rick Pugh and wife Christy; nephew, Lyndell Pugh and wife Mary; nephew, Dar Powers and wife Susan; niece, Mysti Spradlin and husband Mark; nephew, Robinson Gaberdiel and wife Charissa; grandson, Brett Dickson and wife Bre; granddaughter, Haylee Dickson; grandson, Logan Tate; granddaughter, Kinley Tate; granddaughter, Avery Tate; and great grandchildren, Finlee and Harlan Dickson and countless other family and friends.