GIBBONS, Della

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 07/31/2015 Della Davis Gibbons On July 23, 2015, while surrounded by generations of family and her husband of 70 years, Della Davis Gibbons returned with honor to a heavenly home where she awaits a glorious resurrection. Elegant and gracious to the end, she leaves her beloved husband, Jack Vinson Gibbons, and her four children, Candace (Robert) Greer, Jack Vinson (Bonnie) Gibbons, Jr. , Laurette (Marc) Platt and Brett Gibbons, 13 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Born of pioneer stock in St. Johns, April 18, 1927, the eldest child of Mark Seymour Davis and Ellen Burk Davis, she was preceded in death by her parents and brother Wayne Davis. She leaves siblings LaRae Bradburn and Dale Davis, both of St. Johns. A teen bride of World War II, Della worked and supported her husband in the U.S. Navy, then college and dental school, then the Korean War-era U.S. Army, before returning to St. Johns where the Gibbons made their home. Her primary job then began as she and Jack reared their four children. She was active in civic matters, including president of the St. Johns PTA, co-chairman of the Apache County Republican Party, auxiliary president of the Desert Samaritan Hospital, Apache County Republican Women’s Club president, precinct committeewoman twice and two years as Rotarian. A faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served her church where called, as a teacher, Relief Society president, Young Women’s president, Primary president and, in later years, as a missionary serving with her husband in New Zealand. She was known for her friendship and loyalty, commitment to the cause of Christ and devotion to her family. And, of course, for her incomparable fudge, which succeeding generations have yet to master. But the measure of life is not what one does, but what one becomes. If charity is a divine end, a good starting point would be the life of Della Gibbons. A granddaughter’s moving tribute articulates for all of us our overwhelming affection for this sweet Lady: “I prayed as hard as I could that you would give us a little more time with you, but you were needed in Heaven. In your last moments on this earth, I witnessed a most precious and beautiful exhibition of devotion to your family expressed through great physical effort, in the words, ‘I love you.’ I am so lucky to have a Grandma like you. I can’t wait to see you again — I love you, Gigi!” Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, July 31, at Burnham Mortuary in St. Johns and again Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Relief Society room, prior to the funeral service. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, in the Downtown Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in St. Johns. Interment will follow services at the St. Johns Westside Cemetery. If you would like to leave an online condolence for Della’s family, visit www.burnhammortuary.com. Burnham Mortuary of St. Johns handled arrangements.