In Loving Memory of Gabriel “Gabi” Patricia McCaskill, DeLand, FL
The DeLand community is reeling from the heartbreaking and sudden loss of Gabriel “Gabi” Patricia McCaskill, who passed away unexpectedly on June 25, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of love, creativity, and service to others.
At just 28 years old, Gabi had already become a beloved figure in her community—a vibrant soul whose warmth, artistic talent, and deep compassion uplifted everyone around her. A lifelong DeLand resident, she was known not only for her dazzling smile and generous spirit but for her unwavering commitment to making a difference in people’s lives, especially young women with dreams of self-expression through the arts.
An accomplished painter, writer, and advocate, Gabi was deeply involved in community programs, mentoring high school students and volunteering with local nonprofits focused on arts education and mental health awareness. She believed in the transformative power of creativity and made it her mission to create safe, inclusive spaces where young women could express themselves and thrive.
In honor of her life and vision, the McCaskill family has established the Gabriel P. McCaskill Memorial Scholarship Fund, which will support aspiring female artists in the Volusia County area. The fund is a lasting tribute to the passion Gabi brought to her work and her dedication to lifting others up.
Gabi is survived by her loving parents, Thomas and Lillian McCaskill, her younger sister Alyssa, her grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and an extended network of dear friends who considered her family. The outpouring of support and remembrance from those who knew her is a reflection of the profound impact she had on so many lives.
A public Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 6, at Earl Brown Park, where loved ones and community members will gather to honor Gabi’s memory through art, music, and shared stories—just as she would have wanted.
Though gone far too soon, Gabriel “Gabi” Patricia McCaskill leaves behind a world made better by her presence. Her legacy will live on not only through the scholarship that bears her name, but in every brushstroke, lyric, and life she inspired.
May her spirit continue to shine as brightly as the passion she carried for others.
