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Submitted: 11/18/20 • Approved: 11/23/20 • Last Updated: 11/26/20 • R1351471-G0-S3
SPECIALIST FIFTH CLASS US Army
Vietnam
November 19, 1936 - May 22, 2013
Gabe Simon Saliba, 76, of Michie, TN and formerly of Blytheville died May 22, 2013, at his home.
Born in Portageville, MO to Moses Farris and Mabel F. Saliba Simon, he was a US Army veteran and retired national sales manager with Automotive Parts Aftermarket and a member of First Presbyterian Church.
Here is how Gabe would have looked at his life. He was born during a hail and high water storm and for the rest of his life he loved being in the middle of floods, snowstorms and driving rain. He grew up with an inquisitive nature and was always asking why, taking items apart. He was very neat and clean which stayed with him all his life. His mother read to him a book of poems by Robert Lewis Stevenson and it wasn't long until he could quote them verbatim. Gabe had this worn book of poems with his other personal items at the time of his death. He was a crack shot with his 22 rifle and wanted to be a race car driver. He always said, "If I could live my entire life above 120 miles per hour he would be in heaven."
Gabe worked with his dad and grandfather during summers in his high school years and enlisted in the Army after college. Stationed in Germany, he married his girlfriend from Memphis, Tennessee when she showed up at the front gate of the Army Post. After coming back to America, he became a father and this he would later say was his greatest accomplishment.
Gabe He became a modern day "nomad" and traveled the world eventually finding his way to his dream spot "5 Oaks" in Michie, Tennessee. He met and married the true love of his life Bonnie Sue Coggin who would go on to give him the love and peace he had searched for all of his life. From the time Gabe was 16 years old until his death, he owned 80 cars and trucks with the last one being purchased in April of 2013. He said he did not want his 80th vehicle to be a hearse!!
A man of unique character, his life was such that he said," as a Nomad he gave up home and family for dreams of excitement and adventure, yet God allowed this weary Nomads journey not to end in bitterness but rather in 10 years of love and togetherness at his beloved "5 Oaks".
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Moses Simon and Paul Simon.
Gabe is survived by his wife, Bonnie Coggin Saliba, of the home; daughter, Lyle S. Simon, of Sherwood, AR; 2 grandchildren, Jonathan Lee Sherman, Jacob Simon and 1 great granddaughter all of Sherwood, Arkansas.
Graveside services will be Friday, May 24, 2013 at 11:00am in Elmwood Cemetery with Rev. Mike Wey officiating. There will be no visitation. Online register may be signed at cobbfuneralhome.com.
Photo courtesy of;
Annette Shaw
Contributed on 11/18/20 by hawkinsdonna48
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Record #: 1351471