Mary Ann Gibbons

Seven short months ago our father left this world to prepare a mansion for his sweetheart, Mary Ann. On Saturday, May 12, 2018, his preparations were completed and he brought her home.

Our mother, Mary Ann Pine Gibbons, was born November 13, 1935 in Independence, Missouri to Chester Earl Pine and Bertha Marguerite Nebgen Pine. She was the second child and only daughter so you can imagine their joy when she joined their family. Her older brother, Gene, was four years old and he loved and doted on his sister from then on. When Mary Ann was 7 years old her family moved to Phoenix, where they lived for the next several years. Her parents went into a partnership in an appliance repair shop with Clarence and Pearl Gregory, who had a son named Wally who was close to her age.

Mary Ann attended Phoenix High School where she earned perfect attendance all four years of high school as well as the Outstanding Home Economics Award. After graduation, she married Wally in June 1954. To this union were added two children: Linda Ann, born May 30, 1955 and David Lee, born February 27, 1957. In the early 1960's their little family moved to Springerville. Wally and Mary Ann divorced in 1963 and she moved to Eagar with her children and started working for the bank as a teller.

Mary Ann wouldn't stay single for long though. She had caught the eye of a handsome Casanova named Ronald Gibbons, affectionately nicknamed “Son”. On September 27, 1963, Son and Mary Ann eloped to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Son's sister, Neita Eagar and her husband, Rodney went along as witnesses. On the way home they stopped in Safford for their honeymoon.

On May 22, 1965 Mary Ann gave birth to a little girl who she named Ronda Dee after her dad. In November 1968 another little girl, named Merri Lee after her mother. Finally in July 1972 a boy named Ronald Dean Gibbons, Jr. From these five children have come a whole herd of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and if you had a minute or two she would tell you the latest totals with pride.

Besides raising her family, Mary Ann worked a number of different jobs. She worked in the bank, at Nelson's Boot Shop, for Western Auto and finally she was the Administrative Assistant for Art Lee, the Apache County Supervisor, where she retired from after more than 25 years of service. If that wasn't enough, in 1986 Son and Mary Ann bought the Springerville Flower Shop. When they could no longer run the business they turned it over to Ronnie and Tara, who still run it today. After retirement Son and Mary Ann enjoyed traveling to visit the grandkids and weekly visits to Honda Casino.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Son, after 54 years of marriage, her parents, brother, Gene Pine, two nephews, Ronnie Pine and Steven Pine, a niece, Becky Pickering, and a great-granddaughter, Collette Clark.

She is survived by her children: Linda Gregory, Eagar; David (Marsha) Gregory, Eagar; Ronda (Bud) Isaacs, Taylor; Merri Aden, Pima; Ronnie (Tara) Gibbons, Eagar; aunt, Clarabelle Shrout, Oak Grove, Missouri; her favorite cousins who were more like siblings: Donald Nebgen, Tacoma, Washington; Clyde Nebgen, Anchorage, Alaska; and Lisa Beck and Kathy Shrout of Missouri; 36 grandchildren and 56 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Eagar Stake Center, with a visitation one hour prior. Interment will follow the funeral services at the Eagar Cemetery.