Lorna Gibson

Our dearest wife, mother, and friend, Lorna Claire Gibson, 72, of Rathdrum, Idaho passed away November 19, 2013 at Kootenai Medical Center, in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho after a short but valiant battle with cancer. Lorna was the eldest of four children, born September 12, 1941 in Oakland, California to Vivian Suzanne Hartshorn and Cecil Glen Jones, and they lived in most of the lower 48 states at one time or another during her younger years. Lorna attended Grass Valley and Nevada City schools, and later went on to work at Sonoma State Hospital in Eldridge, CA where she became a Psychiatric Technician, working with developmentally disabled individuals. Lorna had also worked for many years with the elderly as an in-home nurse, and later as a Museum Curator with the California State Parks Department for both Jack London State Park and General Vallejo's Home. While studying to be a Psych Tech, Lorna met Gilbert Lee Gibson and they later eloped on his 1959 Harley Davidson motorcycle on November 4, 1962 and were married in Carson City, Nevada while he was home on leave from the Marine Corps. They had just celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary when Lorna passed. Together they raised their family in both Napa and Sonoma, California, and they later moved to North Idaho in 2005 to be near their family. Lorna was a very giving person, who was always willing to help anyone in need. She was also very artistic, and enjoyed porcelain crafts including making her own porcelain dolls, photography, sewing, baking, and durning the last couple of years had devoted much of her spare time to paintings that incorporated the sunsets that she watched and enjoyed so much from her home on the prairie, capturing their beauty perfectly. Many of her works are or were on display locally such as the Rathdrum Post Office and with other businesses. She was also an animal lover, rescuing various animals whenever she could. Her biggest passion was playing bingo with family and friends, and she cherished all of the friends that she made at the Greyhound Park and the Coeur d'Alene Casino bingo halls. Lorna was the pillar of the Gibson Family that she loved and cherished, and is survived by her loving husband Gilbert Lee Gibson of Rathdrum, Idaho; one daughter Julie Carol Gibson-Bragg of Post Falls, Idaho; three sons Lee Morris Gibson of Rathdrum, Idaho, Mike Dalton and his wife Addie Gibson of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and John Thomas and his wife CharLene Gibson of Rathdrum, Idaho; her foster son Eric Levi and Janelle Laidlaw of Wildomar, California; eight grandchildren Steven, James, Brian, Kaytlyn Jo, Sarah, Audrey, Olivia, and John Charles; four great-grandchildren Jim, Brooklyn, Carter, and Jesse; one brother Richard Allen Jones of Everett, Washington; one sister Mary Hinman of San Pablo, California; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, one son James Allen Gibson, one granddaughter Jennifer Addie Gibson, and two sisters Donna, and Cecile. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday November 30, 2013 at 3:00 P.M. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. The family suggests that memorials may be made to the Family Promise program helping local families in need through Trinity Lutheran Church located at 812 N 5th St, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814, or to the Kootenai Humane Society located at 11650 N Ramsey Rd Hayden, ID 83835.