Danny Ray Gabriel

Danny Ray Gabriel, 63, of Houston, died Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017 at St. Luke’s Hospital in the Woodlands, due to a stroke. Danny was born in Houston on Feb. 22, 1954 to Martin Joseph and Betty Ruth (Pereira) Gabriel of Warrenton. Danny grew up on a dairy farm, along with three brothers and two sisters. He attended La Grange High School and later worked as a Machinist/Mechanic for Dean Word Construction, La Grange Ford, Landell/ Hunting, and Wyman Gordon. He loved building and racing custom motorcycles, beer, and football. He had a great sense of humor and loved making people laugh in a way only he could. Danny is survived by his father, Martin Gabriel Sr.; daughter, Christy Zarrabi, wife of Amir (Nick) Zarrabi of Houston; and son, Derek Gabriel of Houston; sister, Sandra Polasek, wife of Glenn Polasek of La Grange; three brothers: Martin, husband of Terry Gabriel of La Grange, Larry of Warrenton, and Michael, husband of Cathy Gabriel of Cypress; along with several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by former spouse Rita Ferguson, wife of Randal Ferguson of Houston. He was preceded in death by his mother, sister Sharon Mertz, and nephew Baby Lynn Gabriel. A memorial service will be held at Fayette Memorial Funeral Home in La Grange on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017 at 10 a.m. Ashes will be interred by close family at a later date in the Florida Chapel Cemetery in Round Top. Because of Danny’s fondness for animals, memorial contributions may be made to the Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter, 240 Svoboda Lane, La Grange, Texas 78945. Fayette Memorial Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.