Gloria Gibbons, 93, Vero Beach
Gloria “Mimi” Gibbons, 93, died peacefully at her home in Vero Beach, on Friday, June 14, 2018, surrounded by her loving family. Gloria May Miller Gibbons was born on June 8, 1925, in Carthage, N.Y. She was the daughter and only child of Dr. Charles Donley Miller and Helen Wilder Miller.
Gloria was raised in Syracuse, N.Y., where her father practiced medicine and her mother was active in the community. Gloria attended elementary school in Syracuse. She received her secondary education at National Park Seminary located outside of Washington, D.C., and her college education at Chevy Chase College in Maryland. It was there where Gloria discovered her love and talent for ice skating.
Gloria’s summers were spent in Alexandria Bay, N.Y., at her grandfather Mark Sheldon Wilder’s home, Pinetree Point, which was situated on the St. Lawrence River located in the Thousand Islands. It was in front of the home’s beautiful stone fireplace where Gloria exchanged vows with the love of her life, Morris A. (Toni) Gibbons, Jr. from Tuckerstown, Bermuda, on Oct. 15, 1947.
Gloria and Toni began their long and productive marriage in Vero Beach where they raised eight children in the Stone House that her grandfather Mark Wilder built in the 1930s. The Gibbons’ Stone House was the scene of many birthday parties, weddings and other festive occasions throughout the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. Gloria knew how to entertain and she was an excellent cook.
During her children’s school years, Gloria was active in the Rosewood School PTA and St. Helen School’s Harvest Festival. She and her husband, Toni, were charter members of the Indian River County Volunteer Ambulance Squad, and she told many stories of those early days before the arrival of modern-day vehicles and high-tech equipment.
Gloria was a life-long member of Hibiscus Circle of the Indian River County Garden Club; and she also served on the Altar Guild at Trinity Episcopal Church. In later years, she volunteered each Wednesday morning at the First Church of God (now called Pathway Church).
Gloria was known for her kindness and generosity throughout the Vero Beach community – never forgetting a birthday or an anniversary.
In the latter 1970s Gloria and Toni sold the Stone House and moved to a smaller home which still – to this day – remains a gathering place for family and friends and where the coffee pot is brewing before the sun comes up.
Gloria was predeceased by her parents Dr. Charles Miller and Helen Miller Williams; her step-father, J. D. Williams; husband, Morris A. “Toni” Gibbons; her three sons, Darby, Mark and Carter Gibbons; her granddaughter, Emily Gibbons; and great-granddaughter, Landi Ohler.
Gloria is survived by her cousin, Sallyann Miller-Wolf, of Perry, Ga., her children and their spouses, Chuck and Marie Gibbons, Gloria (Gibbons) and Richard Tejera, Heather (Gibbons) and Joe Lowther, Madge (Gibbons)and Tim Dobeck and Kevin and Roxanne Gibbons; three daughters-in-law, Patti Gibbons, Barbara Gibbons-Mickler and Rose Gibbons; her grandchildren, Sean Gibbons, Tambi Cobb, Chad Gibbons, Kristin Mickler, Amy Balfe, Travis Gibbons, Jordan Lowther, Joshua Dobeck, Matthew Lowther, Dax Tejera, Brandon Gibbons, Zachary Dobeck, Justin Tejera, Erin Dobeck, Dylan Lowther, Morgan Lowther, Dana Gibbons and Tristan Gibbons; and 17 great-grandchildren. Gloria is also survived by nephews Frank Evans and David Bowker, of Canada, Endicott Peabody, of Arizona, Robert Peabody, of New York; and niece, Barbara Peabody-Cusick, of New York.
A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, June 20, 10:30 a.m. at First Church of God (now known as Pathway Church) located on 58th Ave. and 12th St. in Vero Beach with an Entombment service following at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Fort Pierce.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gloria Gibbons’ memory to: VNA Hospice – 1110 35th Lane – Vero Beach, FL 32960
Betty Alice Hearl, 77, Sebastian
Betty Alice Hearl, 77, of Sebastian, returned to her heavenly home on June 15, 2018. Betty was born to the late Oscar and Hattie Brooks on Aug. 26, 1940, in West Virginia.
Her devotion to her family and her firm belief in God supported her and ultimately gave everyone peace. Betty married her lifelong best friend Quincy Hearl and was married for 62 years.
She had an uncanny ability to reach people in a deep and positive way. Betty was a God fearing woman who exercised her religious beliefs by becoming a member of the Church of God over 50 years ago.
As an active member of the Promise Land Church of God, West Haven, Conn., and the Sebastian Church of God, she touched many lives and made lifelong friends along the way.
Betty was a giver and a selfless person who was called to serve. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend. She was a woman of great strength and character. To her family, she was a hero.
Betty had four siblings, Bill Brooks, Ruth Mitchell, Crick McCoy and Kay Cole and was very close to each and every one of them. Her biggest accomplishment was being a mother. She had three children, Fred (Joanne), Cheryl (Keith) and Kenny (Kathy).
Her heart was full when she was with her family. She also had grandchildren that she was so proud to boast and talk about. Betty Alice had a unique bond with her grandchildren, Kristen (Phil), Katie, Keith, Joshua, Justin (Kylie), Jacob and Casey. She also had three great-grandchildren who were added bonus blessings, Brayden and Braxton Ford and Laelyn Hearl.
All her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were gems in her eyes, they are fruits of her labors and made her endlessly proud.
A celebration of Betty’s life will be held Saturday, June 23, at the Sebastian Church of God at 11 a.m.
We ask in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Sebastian Church of God.
Barbara Albano Howard, 89, Vero Beach
Barbara Albano Howard, 89, died on June 7, 2018, at her residence in Vero Beach at the Indian River Estates. Barbara was born in Springfield, Mass., on Nov. 6, 1928, the daughter of Thomas R. and Mary Ann Albano.
Barbara attended local schools in Springfield; obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in education from Elms College in Chicopee, Mass., and obtained her Master’s Degree in education from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass.
She taught in the Springfield School System for 39 years and retired to Florida in 1988 with her dear friend, Joan Cormak.
She is predeceased by her sister, Patricia Goulette of Portland, Maine.
She is survived by a niece, Tonora Litzen of Venice, Fla.; and a nephew, Thomas Briglia, of Olympic Valley, Calif.
She will be cremated in Vero Beach and her ashes will be buried beside her parents and sister at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Springfield, Mass.
Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach.
