Shirlee Mae (Tait) Gibbons was born on the third of April, 1926 in Evanston, IL to John Tait and Margaret (Connolly) Tait. Just past midnight on June 24, 2017, Shirlee completed her journey at 91 years old.
Seventeen year old Shirlee and her little sister, Patricia, attended high school together until Shirlee dropped out to marry her high school sweetheart, Steven Lindquist on July 22, 1943. A crewmember of the bomber named ‘Queen of Hearts,’ Steve was killed during the Battle of Normandy on July 17, 1944. Six days before her first wedding anniversary, she became a war widow at just eighteen.
Shirlee returned to finish high school, graduating from New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL. While on a double date, she met her date’s friend, Gregory Gibbons, and a romance between them blossomed. Still deployed overseas, it would be weeks before Shirlee received news that Greg was coming home. The message, which was still a secret, was written underneath the stamp, so no one would see it. Sssshhh! During this time, Shirlee went to St. Mary’s College in Kansas City where she earned her associates degree in art design. In early June 1948, a third sister joined the Tait family, Pamela. On June 12, 1948, Shirlee and Greg were married in Evanston, IL, surrounded by family and friends.
Having already learned how hard life can be, the lessons kept coming. In March 1949, their first-born son, perfect in every way, just did not take that very first breath. They named him Joseph, after the Patron Saint of Families. Then, they packed away their hopes and dreams, and waited for a happier tomorrow. And those happier days came with one, two, three healthy children born in two and a half years. The first boy, girl, boy were followed by a boy and then another boy. After that two more girls joined the family. As the children grew, she had more time for her own interests, including machine knitting. Opening her own knitting shop, the ‘Cambridge Spinning Wheel’ which grew into the distributorship for Toyota knitting machines for the entire Midwest.
A love of camping saw Shirlee and Greg visit each of the fifty states. Shirlee fulfilled a lifetime dream when she flew with her two sisters, Pat and Pam, to visit the Emerald Isles of Ireland. The loss of her youngest daughter, Molly, along with Molly’s daughter, Jenna Elizabeth, in 1996, was a particularly difficult loss to overcome. Following soon after were the deaths of both her sister, Pat, and lifelong best friend, Todd: the two ladies who had held her up during the tragedies in her youth. To truly appreciate what Shirlee has accomplished, enjoyed and blessed the world with, reflect upon her long, loving marriage, ending only when Greg passed on June 12, 2009, their 61st anniversary.
Survivors include children: Gregory and Barbara Gibbons of Polaris, MT, Patricia Gibbons and Walter Menning of Rochester, MN, Mark Gibbons of Dillion, MT, Michael and Emilie Gibbons of Toulouse, France, Joseph Gibbons of Cambridge, MN, Mary and Gregory Opatz of Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Grandchildren: Zane and Julie Gibbons (Kestin, Addison and Tate), Lacey Gibbons, Gregory Pishotta and Iwonka Drop, Max Menning, Benjamin Menning, Laura Menning, Jennifer and Christopher Shaffer (John, Jacob, Kaleb, Katherine), Mark Gibbons Jr., Kari Gibbons, Marcee Gibbons (Norah), Paul Gibbons, Luke Gibbons, John Mark and Corinne Gibbons (Noël and Claire), Hannah Gibbons, Naomi and John Shindelar (Yannick), Cecilia Opatz, Hilary and David Vasquez (Evelyn and Ginevra), Kevin Opatz, Thomas Opatz, Tessa Opatz, Natalie Opatz, Jared Pauly. Shirlee’s younger sister, Pamela David, and sisters-in-law Mary Jo Gibbons and Mary DeLuca also carry on the legacy of Shirlee’s life, along with many nephews and nieces.
Preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Gregory T. Gibbons; first husband, Steven S. Lindquist; infant son, Joseph Gregory Gibbons; daughter, Molly Kathleen Pauly; granddaughter, Jenna Elizabeth Pauly; both parents, Jack and Margaret Tait; sister, Patricia Ann Karavas; many beloved brothers and sisters-in-law, cousins and numerous friends.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 1, 2017 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Cambridge. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday at Carlson-Lillemoen Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Online condolences at www.carlsonlillemoen.com.