Mabel Maleece Baker Gahr was bron on January 25, 1924, in Potosi, Missouri as the only child to Nick and Olive (nee Pinnell) Baker and passed away on December 2, 2014 at the Golden Living Center in St. James, Mo. at the age of 90 years, 10 months and 7 days of age.

Mable was a life-long teacher having taught elementary music, band and choral music in St. Clair, Pacific, Fredericksburg, and St. James, Missouri, where she spent the marjority of her career and ultimately retired. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education at Central Methodist College in Fayette, MIssouri. During the course of her expansive career, Mabel was highly recognized as an innovator and producer in the field of choral music in Missouri. She sat on the Missouri Activities Association Board of Directors, and in 1991, Mabel received the Luther T. Spayde Missouri Choral Director of the Year Award - the highest honor given by the Missouri Choral Directors Association. She was devoted to her students and they were devoted to her as evidenced by the highly successful choral program in St. James under her tutelage. Her passion was music and enjoyed teaching children and adults alike to enjoy and excel at it.

After her retirement from public schools, Mabel took on the task of starting the first ever traveling show choir at The University of Missouri at Rolla. She also taught music classes at East Central Junior College in Union.

Mabel was a devout Christian and always active in her church music programs. She was the long-time organist and choir director at the First Church of God in St. James and was very active in the children's music program at Kings Way United Methodist Chruch while living in Springfield, Mo.

Mabel is survived by two children: Daughter: Nikki Gahr Sells and son-in-law: Robert Sells, of Franklin, Tennessee; and son Scott Gahr and daughter-in-law: Barb Gahr of St. James, Mo.; 6 grandchildren Wes Gahr of St. James, Nickole Gahr Ralston of Lexington, MO .; Jesse Sells of Elkins, Arkansas, Aaron Witte of Des Moines, Iowa, Jennifer Hilden of St. James, and Angela Kimberlin of Cuba, Mo.; and 13 great -grandchildren.

Services
Visitation will be from 6 - 8 PM on Thursday, December 4, 2014 at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri.

Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, December 5, 2014 at 11 AM at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Mo. with Don Carson officiating. Pallbearers will be: Dan Collier, Chris Mueller, Ron Yocum, Jim Ashby, Stephen Shields,and Mark Benton. The vocalist will be Stephen Shields and organist will be Linda Spurgeon.
Burial will be in the St. James Cemetery in St. James, Mo.

Memorials may be made to the Mabel Gahr Vocal Scholarship . Cards are available at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Mo.

All arrangements are under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Mo.