Maureen A. (Sickler-Gavek) Smales

Maureen A. (Sickler-Gavek) Smales
Maureen Ann Smales, passed away at home with her family on August 28, 2023. She was 65 years old. Formerly of Beaumont and Mehoopany, she spent her final years living in Reidsville NC.
Maureen was born in Meshoppen PA on January 22, 1958 to the late Nile and Elba Sickler of Beaumont. Maureen attended Tunkhannock Area High School and graduated in 1975. She married her high school sweetheart shortly after school, with whom she had two legendary children, Jim Gavek Jr and Chrissy (Gavek) Cole.
She spent time working at the Endicott Johnson shoe factory and the New Age Examiner in Tunkhannock. She was a notary public, and a secretary for many years to County Commissioner Robert Barziloski. In 1988, Maureen got her real estate license and spent the rest of her life in the real estate/mortgage field and owning her own Abstract business.
Maureen spent the last 22 years welcoming grandchildren. Everything she did was with them in mind and caring for their well-being. Grandma Maureen was always there, any time of the day or night. She enjoyed teaching them how to swim, taking them to the carnivals and fairs, and simple things like going out for ice cream and reading books to them. They were absolutely the light of her life. Her life was always about her children, grandchildren, nieces & nephews, and any other family or neighbor kids that needed anything.
In 2011, Maureen married her husband David Smales in Lake Tahoe, CA. This was on one of their many road trips through the country to the west coast. She loved to travel. Most of her vacations were spent in Treasure Lake in Dubois, PA. She also enjoyed trips to Maine, Connecticut, Tennessee, and Florida. Maureen also enjoyed music. She loved to listen to The Grass Roots, Van Morrison, Eddie Money, and other classic acts. When she passed, Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit in the Sky” was playing next to her.
Maureen is survived by her husband of 12 years, Dave Smales. Her children – Jim Gavek Jr and his wife Melissa, of Reidsville NC, and Chrissy Cole and her husband Brad, of Winston-Salem NC. Step-children – Amber Middendorf and her husband Tim, Courtney Decker and her husband James, and Britney Banfield. Grandchildren – Kayla Gavek, Jimmy Gavek III, Karli Gavek, Jakob Spickerman, Nile Gavek, Autumn, Aubrey, Barkley, Landon and Layla. Brothers – Bill Sickler and his wife Kelly of Beaumont, Steve Sickler and his wife Sue, also of Beaumont, and a sister, Elaine Haas. And many beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Nile and Elba Sickler.
Funeral service will be held Saturday September 2, 2023,AT 11AM in the Nulton Kopcza Funeral Home 5749 SR 309, Beaumont, Monroe Twp. with the Pastor Charles Grube of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Dallas, officiating.
Interment will be in the Beaumont Cemetery.
Friends may call Saturday September 2, 2023 9-11am in the funeral home.