Gretchen Louise Sabel Hatcher was born June 8, 1962, in Seattle, Washington and departed this life August 7, 2024, in Springfield, Missouri. She was 62 years of age.
Growing up in Seattle, Washington, she had fond memories of spending summers and weekends as her father was a forest ranger at Mt. Rainier. She graduated from Franklin High School in 1980.
Gretchen married Michael Hatcher on the 16th of September 1989 when they eloped to Lake Tahoe. They then had a church wedding on April 7th, 1990, at the Prince of Peace Chapel, Naval Submarine Base Bangor, in Bangor, Washington. Gretchen always enjoyed having two anniversaries every year.
She had two boys born to this union: Michael and Aaron and had five boys who greeted her when she arrived in heaven: Stuart, Matthew, Joseph, Joshua, and Caleb.
Gretchen was the epitome of the perfect Navy wife. For 24 years, she took care of the home while her husband went underway. She was designated as a Lady of the Submarine Force, and as a special mark of gratitude, she was entitled to wear the submarine dolphin insignia. During her years as a Navy wife, she made homes in Washington State, La Maddalena, Italy, Guam, Nixa, Missouri, and five years ago, made her home in Theodosia.
Gretchen was always an entrepreneur. Everything she put her mind to was a success. She sold scrapbooking supplies through Creative Memories. She and her husband had the Heaven’s Scents Candle Company. In Guam, she owned and operated the island’s only Kindermusik studio (Island Kids Music). Upon moving to Missouri, she opened Studio Z fitness studio in Nixa and when moving to Theodosia, she opened Inside Out Fitness and eventually opened the Country Apron Bakery. She and her husband are building a Pastor retreat named Briar Creek in Theodosia and this will continue in her honor.
Gretchen and her husband were born again in January 1991 and they were both baptized together in the Summer of 1991 in the Mediterranean Sea while living in Italy.
She was such a shining light, a kingdom builder, a joy maker, and dear friend. She lived with purpose and made everyone who met her better. She will have a legacy of kindness, compassion, servant’s heart, and love that will live on forever.
Gretchen was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ethel and James Drake and Helen Clocksin, her mother and father, Donna and Gerald Sabel, mother-in-law Sharon Hatcher, and her sisters-in-law Lois Kaebel and Debbie Sabel.
She is survived by her loving husband, Michael Hatcher, two children, Michael Hatcher II and his wife Kailee, and Aaron Hatcher, two brothers, Steve Sabel, Stuart Sabel and his wife Katie Maychild, and her sister, Lori Sabel and her husband Jim Black, and many cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends who will miss her.
Funeral services for Gretchen will be held at The Bridge to the Living Word Church in Theodosia, Missouri, on Saturday, August 17th. Visitation will begin at 10:00am. The Service will start at 11:00am with graveside services to follow at Lutie Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a GoFundMe page is set up to help construct the “Joy” cabin at Briar Creek Retreat. https://gofund.me/743bae55 or send checks to Briar Creek Retreat, 777 CR 656, Theodosia, MO 65761. Arrangements are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville, MO.
