HAMBLIN, Colleen

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 03/13/2015 Colleen G. Hamblin, 76, died Sunday, March 1, 2015, in Show Low. She was born Feb. 20, 1939, in St. Johns, the daughter of Kenneth Edward and Lona Grace Merrill Gibbons. Colleen “Grandma Great Goose” was a fixture in our community. She took great joy in being a scrub tech CNA at the local hospital. To her the best part of her job was welcoming so many babies into the world. “Every little baby needs a kiss on the neck.” She raised seven wonderful children with her same thirst to help others. As a family and with extended family members, she went on annual fishing trips to Roosevelt and camping during the Merrill Reunion. She waited all year for those trips to come. She lived for camping trips, picnics, picking pinons and fishing, even though she rarely caught anything. With every beautiful sunset, rainbow, meadow and neck kiss, she’ll be there. Colleen is survived by her sons, Cowen (Lana) Hamblin, Brock Hamblin, Eddie (Kim) Hamblin and Steven (Shirley) Hamblin; daughters Shanna (Rod) Denault, Dawn Hamblin and Robin (Billy) Coleman; brother Ronald “Son” Gibbons; 26 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, loving husband, Douglas “Goose” Hamblin, two sisters and a brother. A viewing was held March 4 at Burnham Mortuary with funeral services March 5 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Eagar Stake Center. Interment followed services at the Eagar Cemetery. If you would like to leave an online condolence for Colleen’s family, visit www.burnhammortuary.com Burnham Mortuary of Eagar handled arrangements.