Gabriel L. Bernal Sr., 68, of Parsons died at 9:57 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2011, at his home. He had been in failing health.

He was born Feb. 27, 1943, in Cherryvale to Rafael and Herminia (Leon) Bernal. As an infant, he moved with his family to Parsons, where he attended St. Patrick’s Catholic School and was a 1961 graduate of Parsons High School.

He worked for the Katy Railroad for several years before working at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant. He then returned to the Union Pacific Railroad, where he worked until retiring in 2006.

He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parsons. He enjoyed fishing and automobiles.

He married Sandra “Tammy” Ford. They later divorced. On April 14, 1990, he married Bonnie C. “Cozette” Williams in Miami, Okla. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include three sons, Gabriel “Gabe” Bernal Jr. and his wife, Chris, of Galesburg, Josh Taylor of Parsons and Richard Cutshall and his wife, Jennifer, of Portland, Ore.; four daughters, Tracy Sheffield and her husband, Chris, of Houston, Tricia Myers and her husband, Rodney, of Oklahoma City, Christie Myers and her husband, Rick, and Jessica Bernal, all of Parsons; 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a brother, Ralph Bernal and his wife, “Jerry,” of Coffeyville; and two sisters, Florentina “Roberta” Koger and her husband, Martin, of Parsons and Matilda Reed and her husband, Terry, of Orange, Calif.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Gustavo Bernal and Jesse Bernal; and three sisters, Lorenza Sandoval, Petra Bernal and Ruth Riggs.

The service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. The rosary will be at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends immediately following the rosary.

Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society. These may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.