Obituary of Mary-Elizabeth Gibb

MARY ELIZABETHGIBB, 86 FARGO, N.D. - Mary Elizabeth Gibb, 86, of Fargo, ND passed away with her family at her side Saturday, September 20, 2008 from heart failure. Mary Elizabeth and her twin sister, Annie Lizzie Moss, were born seconds apart, on February 16, 1922, in Carthage, TN to Grover Cleveland Moss and Laura Virgie (Evans) Moss. Mary and Annie grew up in Carthage and graduated from Carthage High School in 1941. There, they were each known as "twin" during their star basketball career and were also members of the Girls' Reserve. After high school, Mary moved to Nashville to attend nursing school, decided nursing wasn't her future and started work at an aircraft manufacturing plant as a riveter. Mary enlisted in the Marine Corps in May 1944, and served at the Department of the Pacific Headquarters until honorably discharged in September 1945. Mary met a fellow marine, David Gibb, in San Francisco and they were married at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in San Francisco on July 21, 1945. After David's discharge in October 1945, they moved to Fargo where David joined his father and three brothers in the plumbing business at Robert Gibb and Sons. In 1951, Mary, David and their three children moved to Williston, ND, where David managed a branch of Robert Gibb and Sons. In 1961, the family moved to Moorhead where Mary continued raising her family and David managed various hotel properties for Gibb Realty including the Comstock Hotel in Moorhead. After David's retirement in 1986, they enjoyed dividing their time between their Fargo condominium and Mulberry, FL, where they enjoyed golfing and spending time with family and friends, especially Nancy and Ken Pennington. Through the years, Mary enjoyed bowling, golfing and various handicrafts such as ceramics, knitting, crocheting and jigsaw puzzles. Mary was an avid fisherperson, while they had a place on Round Lake, MN, and would spend hours in a boat fishing on the lake. Mary was an active bowler and golfer until retirement years. She was an active member of the Moorhead Country Club for 40 years and enjoyed working with the youth golf program. Mary was active member of the First Baptist Church and always cherished and enjoyed the opportunities to engage with her friends at church. Mary is survived by her sons, David (Jane) Moorhead, John (Virginia Lenvik) Sacramento, CA; and her daughter, Peggy (Barrie) Meissner, Dent, MN; her grandchildren, David III, Woodbury, MN, Elizabeth, Moorhead, MN, Joseph (Lauren), Boston, MA, George, Lakewood, CO, Jan Wong, Alhambra, CA, Melissa (Mark) Gangnes, Argusville, ND, Jessica Meissner, Fargo, ND; her great-grandchildren: Kristopher, Nicholas, and Danica Gibb, Fargo, ND, Paige Raaf, Detroit Lakes, MN, Hunter, twins Hannah and Holden Gangnes, Argusville, ND; her twin sister, Annie Lizzie (Moss) Drake, Mulberry FL; and many nephews and nieces throughout the United States. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; one sister, Lemoin; and two brothers, William E. and Bobby G. Moss; and her beloved poodle, Beau. The family extends its sincere appreciation to the doctors and staff at Innovis Health that provided care to Mary, especially Seth, Irina, Robert and Chaplin Anna. The family also expresses its thanks to Mary's condominium neighbors who were always so kind and helpful over her years there. Mary recently moved to the Waterford where she was just starting to join in the social activities and meeting new friends and friends from previous years. The family wishes to thank the Waterford staff that made her recent transition as easy as possible. She was just beginning to call it home. Visitation: 5 to 7pm, Wednesday, September 24, 2008, with a Prayer Service at 7pm at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home. Funeral: 2pm, Thursday, September 25, 2008, at First Baptist Church, Fargo. Interment: At Riverside Cemetery, Fargo. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church or to the Dakota Medical Foundation Lend A Hand Fund that provides financial assistance to area individuals with catastrophic medical needs. Memorial donations may also be made to the David and Mary E Gibb Youth Golf Fund at Impact Foundation that provides financial assistance to programs promoting area youth golf programs.