Willis Spencer Gibbons

Willis Spencer Gibbons, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and fisherman extraordinaire, passed away in his home in Show Low, Navajo County, Arizona, in the early morning hours of August 18, 2018, at the age of 85 years.   Willis was born in Eagar, Apache County, Arizona on the 6th of April in 1933, to Austin Whitney Gibbons and Mary Burk. He moved to Phoenix as a teenager, where he attended Wilson School. He next attended Phoenix Union High School, graduating in 1951, followed by Phoenix College and Arizona State College at Flagstaff, where he was awarded his teaching degree in 1959.   Willis' college education was interrupted while he served as a radar operator in Korea at the end of the Korean war.

On the most important day of Willis' life, October 4, 1958, he was married and sealed to Doris Carolyn Woolsey in the Mesa, Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Willis and Carolyn were blessed with four children, Jay, Annette (deceased), Dennis, and Julee.                                                                                                                            

Willis was a quick witted, intelligent man with a great sense of humor. He will be remembered for his love of fishing, hunting, shooting, wood cutting and all things outdoors. He also enjoyed singing, reading, and dancing the jitter bug and the waltz with his wife Carolyn. They were excellent on the dance floor!

Willis will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 59 years, Carolyn; his children, Jay, Dennis (Cara) and Julee (Kevin) Whaley; his grandchildren, Jeremy (Mary), Brittany (Taylor), Sarah, Jared (Taylor), Spencer, Dalton, Erica, and his great-grandchildren Emelia, Elsie, Madison, Elijah, Sawyer, Owen, Olive, Jude, Lincoln and Gideon. Willis was preceded in death by his daughter, Annette, and his parents, Austin and Mary Gibbons.

A viewing and friends calling will be held Friday, August 24, 2018 from 10:00 A.M. - 10:45 A.M. at the Linden Valley Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 971 Timberland Road, Show Low, Arizona with the Funeral Services beginning at 11:00 A.M.  Concluding Services with Military Honors will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, August 25th at the Eagar Cemetery, 299 W. 3rd Street, Eagar, Arizona

Finally, if you knew Willis, you know he loved his grandchildren. He was always anxious to welcome another one into the family. In light of that, if you so desire, you may make memorial donations in memory of Willis to his grandson's IVF fund at www.gofundme.com/redheadedbabies to help make possible the birth of his 11th great-grandchild. We had planned to see Willis hold that grandbaby when he or she was born. Instead, we are hoping he is holding that child now, until they are able to join our family here. 
 

Willis, Willow, Willie, Dad, Grandpa - you will be sorely missed. Please save us a place! We love you!