Margaret Louise Gibbs

Margaret Gibbs loved using metal, glass, fiber, ceramics and other sculptural materials to express the creativity that was a bedrock in her life. She grew up in Michigan where she worked a night job in order to take art classes at Muskegon Junior College. Adventurous travel with her two sisters at different times took her around the country before she settled in the Pacific Northwest in 1975.

After working in Tacoma for a couple of years, she moved to Bellingham and put herself through college. With her new degree in art, she held a variety of jobs before getting into a cement finishers program in 1981. She could be convinced, at times, to tell some riveting stories about a woman’s life in the almost exclusively male cement industry. Her job with the City of Seattle kept her busy with projects including the West Seattle Bridge and one of the Lake Washington floating bridges. At the end of her career, she was in charge of maintaining the brick paving in Pioneer Square and the city’s remaining granite curbs and cobblestone streets.

Throughout her life, she continued to find true joy in art and gardening. After her retirement in 2007, she had more time for art as well as travel with her husband, Michael, who she knew and loved for over 38 years. Margaret and Michael would often travel to their favorite locations in California, Nevada and Hawaii.

Later, she volunteered as a docent at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art and also brought her many art interests and talents to the Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network (BARN). Her artwork was displayed at the art museum and at BARN as well as in galleries.

She was a beloved member of the Dirt Devils, the gardening crew that cares for the landscaping at BARN. Margaret also created a beautiful garden haven at home that overflowed with lush greens and abundant colorful blooms and attracted birds, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other wildlife.

Margaret’s life was characterized by a modesty that was foundational to the beauty of her artwork, a wry sense of humor that captivated her friends, and a work ethic that made her accomplishments seem effortless. She is and will continue to be greatly missed.

In addition to her husband, Michael Reed, she is survived by two sisters, Janis and Courtney, and a brother, Michael. Donations in her memory may be made to BARN.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island.