William R. “Bill” Gable Jr: Obituary

Obituaries

Bill Gable, beloved bassman (guitarist) from Atlanta, Georgia. passed away on Friday, November 8th, shortly before noon at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Georgia. He was born on September 28, 1954.

Bill and Debra, his wife and partner of 32 years, had just recently moved from their home in Lawrenceville, Georgia to retire in Murphy, North Carolina. Bill and Debra met playing music, and shared the same love of music. They were looking forward to performing together in retirement, and Bill planned to continue his internet business.

When Bill was younger, his family moved to Atlanta where he spent his formidable years. He started playing a Fender bass guitar at age 14, only to later become a dedicated Rickenbacker bass guitar player. At one time he had over 50 bass guitars in his arsenal. He had found his true passion.

In 1977, Bill enrolled in Georgia State University School of Business for Music Business. He did DJ work for the college, and started playing music professionally throughout Atlanta. For years he played in and managed the band “Snake Doctor”, which was the house band for a period of time at Rock Bridge Saloon.

Bill had been struggling with Type I diabetes for the past several years. In the last year his health started to rapidly decline. His primary care physician determined that he had additional issues which required a CT scan. The Sunday before his scheduled procedure for an esophagus exploratory scope and biopsy, Bill collapsed several times. He was transported from Blairsville’s Union General Hospital to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for a biopsy and evaluation that resulted in the diagnosis of esophageal cancer.

Bill’s wife Debra, his mother Audrey Lanoux Gable of Decatur, Georgia, his sister Gwendolyn Gable of Decatur, Georgia, his brother Brad Gable of Denver, Colorado, as well as close friends, were able to visit with Bill at the hospital until his passing.

There will be no public viewing for Bill, as he chose to be cremated. A service is planned in the near future and details will be provided on this site.

Bearden Funeral Home, Dawsonville, GA

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