Elsie Parker Libby Gibson
GIBSON, Elsie Parker Libby, 97, ASHLAND October 19, 2015. A Celebration of her life will be held at 2 p.m., on Sunday, October 25, 2015, at the Advent Christian Church, Ashland. Arrangements are under the care of Lajoie Funeral Home, Ashland.
ASHLAND – Elsie Parker Libby Gibson was a lady – prayerful, kind, gracious, humble, steadfast and hardworking. On Monday, October 19, 2015, her work on earth was finished, and she went home to be with her Lord.
Elsie was born September 18, 1918, in Connor, ME, the daughter of Harold and Margaret (West) Parker. She graduated from Presque Isle High School.
She lived in Caribou, Masardis, Ashland, and Nashville, ME, but her happiest days were spent with family and friends at Libby Camps in T8R9, ME. She was a deaconess at the Ashland Advent Christian Church and a member of the Eastern Star. She was a Sunday School teacher and a member of the local school board.
Elsie was married to Allie Libby from 1938-1959. They met as neighbors on the backroad in Masardis. At age 18, Elsie began working at Libby Camps, which was a two-day canoe trip up the Aroostook River. After she married Allie, they operated Libby Camps together. When Allie died in 1959, Elsie and her four boys, aged four to twelve, continued to run the business. In 1977, Elsie turned the reins over to Matthew P. and Ellen Libby. In 2013, Matthew J. and Jessica Libby took the lead. This year Libby Camps celebrates its 125th anniversary.
Elsie was married to John (Bud) Gibson from 1969 to 2003. John and Elsie met at Libby Camps. Together, they upgraded the camps and began a tradition of taking their grandchildren, in pairs, to their camps at Chandler Pond. Those weeklong summer visits are fondly remembered by all. Elsie and John enjoyed traveling together. Elsie especially loved their trips to the Holy Land and the Canadian Rockies and Alaska.
With both her husbands, Elsie shared a love of Jesus, the great North Woods, and their families. Elsie was accomplished at gardening, cooking, fishing, journal keeping, and needlework. She loved flowers, loons, the Big Pine, preparing Christmas dinners for her family, and reading the Bible.
Elsie is survived by her four sons and two step-daughters: Gary and Judy Libby of Broadview Heights, OH, Tyler and Debbie Libby of Stratham, NH, Samuel and Ciony Libby of Jacksonville, FL, Matthew and Ellen Libby of Castle Hill, Gail Gibson of Mapleton, Mary (Gibson) and Randy Caron of Garfield; a special niece, Etta Libby Davenport of Old Town, ME; 10 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her first husband, Albion (Allie) Libby; her second husband, John Gibson; her sisters, Velma Libby Craig, Phyllis Harris and Doris Kneher; and her brother, Harold “Ted” Parker.
The family wishes to thank the staff of North Woods Manor in Ashland for all their loving care during the past five years. Their kindness to Elsie and the quality of life they provided greatly enriched her days.
A Celebration of Elsie’s life will be held at 2 p.m., on Sunday, October 25, 2015, at the Advent Christian Church, Exchange St., Ashland, ME, with Rev. William Harris officiating. Friends are invited to visit with family on Sunday from 1 p.m. until the time of service at the church. Interment will follow at Ellis-Trafton Cemetery, Fenderson Road, Ashland. The family invites everyone to share memories and refreshments immediately following the service downstairs at the church. Services are entrusted to Lajoie Funeral Home, 114 Exchange St. / P.O. Box 39, Ashland. A celebration of Elsie’s life will be held by the family at Libby Camps in the summer of 2016. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in honor of Elsie to the North Wood Manor, 35 Walker Street, Ashland, ME 04732.
To share condolences online, please visit www.LajoieFuneralHome.com.
