Gabriel Gonzalez

Gabriel Gilberto Gerald "Speedy" Gonzalez, 68, of Jackson passed away Friday, June 4, 2021, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born June 21, 1952, in San Antonio, son of Juan Julian and Amada Acavedo Gonzalez.

Speedy was a 1969 graduate of LaSalle High School (South Antonio) in San Antonio.

He was inducted into the U.S. Army on Nov. 29, 1971, and was honorably discharged Feb. 29, 1988. Serving during the Vietnam era, he worked in military intelligence as an interceptor analyst and with radio intelligence.

He enjoyed writing poetry, and was a published poet with Hallmark greeting cards.

Speedy was the best father and grandfather that he could be.

He has been a resident of Jackson for 20 years, and was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson.

Loving survivors include four children, Anna Sander of Arnold, Missouri, Marcella Cook of Lufkin, Texas, Leticia Adams of Killeen, Texas, and Armando Gonzalez of Fort Hood, Texas; a stepdaughter, Tiffanie Johnson of Jackson; nine grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and two siblings, Roman Gonzalez of San Antonio and Mary Hill of Newport News, Virginia.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Juan Gonzalez.

Visitation will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Funeral Mass will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with the Rev. Randy Tochtrop officiating. Private inurnment will be in Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis at a later date.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Melaina's Magical Playland in Cape Girardeau.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.