MARY CATHERINE GIBBS

1924 - 2018

MARY CATHERINE GIBBS Mary Catherine Gibbs, 93, passed away February 19, 2018. She was born Sept. 2, 1924 to Willis and Mary Etta Brown who owned a farm near Suffolk, VA. She was the youngest of nine children. Her father was killed in a car accident when she was seven years old. She was baptized at that time and spent her life serving God, her church and her family. In 1945 Mary married Irving Gibbs. From that union they were blessed with three children - Irving, Jr., Carolyn and Ronald. Mary was a playground director in Brooklyn, NY, and taught piano lessons. In 1984, she went back to college to continue her education. She received her B.A. degree from the College of New Rochelle at New York Theological Seminary in New York City in May 1987. Mary moved to North Kansas City, MO in 1994 to be closer to her grandchildren. She joined Park Hill Christian Church and was a member of the Christian Women's Fellowship, Young At Heart and Faith Keepers Sunday School class. She was also a member of the Shepherd's Center. In 2008, Mary began writing poems after she lost her last sibling. Her poems were most often about her unwavering faith in God. I Am Packing Up Packing up getting ready to go. Where I am going, I want you to know. Up to Heaven to see Christ the King. I will thank and praise Him for everything. I will thank Him for giving us His son, For my family, friends and neighbors - The list has just begun. I will see Jesus sitting on His throne. He will say, "My child, welcome home." Her son, Irving Jr., preceded Mary in death. She is survived by son Ronald Gibbs, daughter Carolyn Waterman, grandsons Kevin and Travis Waterman, great-grandchildren Tasia, Darnell, and Maliyah Waterman, and special friends Deb Turpin and Rob and Nancy Robinson. Mary donated her body to science. A celebration of her life will be held March 30, at Park Hill Christian Church, with visitation at 10 a.m. and the celebration following at 11 a.m. Donations in Mary's name may be made to Park Hill Christian Church, 6601 NW 72nd St, Kansas City, MO 64151.