Gabriel John Ferreira

Gabriel “Gabe” John Ferreira, beloved son of Tiffany (Morton) Heil and Edmond David Ferreira, was born October 21, 2005, in St. Louis, Missouri, and passed away January 13, 2022, in Springfield, Missouri. He was 16 years of age.

Gabe was a big fan of SpongeBob SquarePants. He loved to listen to music, especially the old country classics. He talked of being an actor and a country music star someday. Gabe loved to sing and had a beautiful timbre voice. He also loved to write songs. Gabe loved to play poker with his friends and stepdad Andy.

Gabe was commonly known in Seymour as “Mother Duck” with his little brothers, Noah and Eli, tagging along after him. Gabe was a sophomore at Seymour High School and was the mascot for the Seymour Tigers. He received his certification as a gymnastics instructor and helped his Grandma Cherry teach youth gymnastics classes. Gabe was an entrepreneur, who loved to wheel and deal with his Papa Joe and Uncle J.J.

Gabe was charming and witty and lived everyday to make people laugh with his sense of humor. He did some tutoring on the side and he especially loved helping his special friend Will. Gabe’s legacy to help people will continue through organ donation, which will help over seventy people.

Gabe was reunited in Heaven with his infant sister, Sophia Ferreira, his maternal grandfather, Charles Sweeney, his paternal grandfather, David Ferreira, great- grandparents, Gladys “Gee-Gee” Holman, Loretta Ferreira, James Riley Holman, and Dona Holman, great-grandparents, Jerrie Gann White and Albert White, and great uncle, Danny Ray Holman.

He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Tiffany and Andrew Heil, his father and stepmother, Edmond and Aubrey Ferreira, two brothers, Noah and Elijah Ferreira, two sisters, Allison and Amelia Ferreira, maternal grandparents, Cherry Sweeney, John Larsen, Karen Riley, George Odell, Chris and Joan Heil, paternal grandparents, Marlena White and Joe Aldrich, and many uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends who will miss him very much.