June Marie (McLaughlin) Gibbs, age 86, passed away peacefully on April 16, 2023, at Indiana Regional Medical Center, Indiana, Pennsylvania, after a short illness. She was born in Cherokee, Iowa, on June 26, 1936, to Lawrence Douglas and Evelyn Mae (Mosier) Gibbs.
June was an accomplished musician and singer, playing the piano for services at church during high school and playing clarinet in her high school’s marching band. She attended college at the University of Iowa, graduating with a degree in nursing. It was at the University of Iowa where she met her future husband of 65 years, James Jay Gibbs, and they were married on December 22, 1957.
James and June lived in Omaha, Nebraska; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Bowie, Maryland; and Monroeville, Pennsylvania, for most of their married lives; and finally in Blairsville and Indiana, Pennsylvania, in personal care homes for the last 2 years.
June worked part-time as a registered nurse when her children were young and then worked full-time when they were in high school. She enjoyed reading, sewing, quilting, crocheting, knitting, counted cross stitching and most of her creations were gifted to family members over the years. June was active in the UMC Ladies’ Circle Group, she served as a Girl Scout Leader and was a cheering supporter of her children’s swim team each summer.
June and Jim owned Yorkie dogs over the course of the past 40 years, and their most recent dog, Sam, now lives with his “older sister” Ruth.
For many winters after they retired, June and Jim RVed in Tampa, Florida, enjoying days at Busch Gardens and Disney World. They also visited June’s brother Bill McLaughlin and his wife, Verna. Jim and June enjoyed the fresh produce in Florida and the warm weather.
June was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, James Jay Gibbs; her parents, Lawrence and Evelyn McLaughlin; her brother Robert Lewis McLaughlin; her brother William Arthur McLaughlin and his wife Verna McLaughlin; and her grandson, Daniel Lawrence Davis.
June is survived by her children, Ruth Masula (Paul), Denise Davis (Randy), and Jay Gibbs; grandchildren, Nicole Schiller (Jason), Colleen Hill (Tony), Stuart Masula (Melissa nee Taylor), James Davis (Alyshia nee Bohannon), Joshua Gibbs (Alex nee Bourquein), Arianna Gibbs (Chris Ortiz); great-grandchildren, Cora Mae Schiller, Kai Xandar Masula, Hunter Rylan Taylor, Delilah Ortiz, and Everly Austen Gibbs; and many nieces and nephews.
Services are private. Charitable donations can be made to Monroeville United Methodist Church, the Humane Society, or The American Cancer Society.
Shoemaker Funeral Home, Inc., Blairsville, PA has been entrusted with arrangements. To view the online obituary, sign the guest registry or send condolences visit www.shoemakerfamilyservices.com.
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