Rebekah Gabriel, age 67, of Burnsville, a former resident of Boone, died Tuesday, April 29th, 2025, at Smoky Ridge Health and Rehabilitation Center in Burnsville. Rebekah was a native of Watauga County, born and raised in Boone. She was the daughter of the late Steve and Donnie Gabriel. Rebekah received a BA in Library Science at Appalachian State University in 1983. After working as a librarian and media specialist at several NC elementary schools, Rebekah returned to Boone as a Media Specialist at Hardin Park Elementary School, and later as a librarian at ASU.

Rebekah loved the outdoors and was a passionate reader. She also enjoyed hiking and gardening. She played on the Watauga High School tennis team and was a member of the Future Teachers of America Club. Rebekah also loved cooking, with some of her specialties being a mean lasagna, killer chicken parmigiana, and a scrumptious apple pie.

Rebekah is survived by two daughters, Kalina Cunningham and her husband Chip of Raleigh, NC, and Jessica Martin of Wilmington, sister Karen Dunlap and husband Monty of Blowing Rock, NC, brother Richard Gabriel and wife Linda of Asheville, NC, brother Tom Gabriel and his wife Louise of Durham, NC, and two grandchildren, Dylan and Lucas.

A private burial service was held on Thursday, May 1st, 2025 at Mount Lawn Cemetery in Boone, NC. A celebration of Rebekah's life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Richard T. and Dorothy B. Barker Friends of the Library Fund at https://library.appstate.edu/give, or to Memory Care, 100 Far Horizons Lane, Asheville, North Carolina 28803.

Online condolences may be sent to the Gabriel family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.