Mary Michelle Gambrel

Mary Michelle Gambrel was born on October 1st, 1953 in Aurora Colorado to Peter and Shirley Niewiadomski. Her father, Peter, was a Marine and she moved around when she was a child - Lincoln Nebraska for a couple years, then to Orange County California until 6 years old where she attended Kindergarten and 1st grade. Then the family moved back to Denver permanently.

In elementary school she joined Campfire Girls and continued with it through middle school. In Campfire Girls she learned about the WoHeLo way: work, health and love, along with many skills for life and the outdoors. Her grandfather made the leather patch awards for the council on a printing press and she assisted making those awards.

In high school, Mary learned how to play the flute and guitar and took up running hurdles and spints for the high school track team. She participated in running events for the AAU Junior Olympic team.

Mary attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greely taking accounting and gym classes. She was thinking of becoming a gym teacher.

In her 20s, Mary moved to Washington DC. She worked as an accountant for approximately 6 years and moved back to Denver. In May of 1981, Mary gave birth to her only child, a son, Drew.

In 1985, Mary met and married Bill Gambrel. In 1987, husband Bill, Mary, Drew moved to Pheonix for about 3 years.

In the fall of 1989, the family moved to Amarillo TX, where Bill's family lived. In 1996, Mary graduated from WTAMU with a Bachelors of Science and became a math teacher at Travis Middle School.

In 2019, Mary retired from teaching, her career spanning 23 years. In retirement she continued many friendships that was created during her career. She enjoyed lunches with her retired teacher friends. She began attending Faith SW Methodist Church, weekly bible studies and participated in a greeting card ministry.

Mary will be remembered by her fearless and fiery attitude. She had a deep desire to love and mentor her grandsons and see them succeed in life-they were her world. She was preceded in death by her father and mother and former husband Bill. She left this earth to meet Jesus on May 10th 2026 . Mary left behind her son Drew and his wife Sondra, her grandchildren - Elijah, Josiah and Jacob, her sister Pam and her husband Joe Frost, her sister Diane and her husband Dan, and her brother Tim and his wife Marsha.