Laurel Ann Gay Gibson

by Joyce, Gloria, and Donna

Many of us California cousins never really got to know Aunt Laurel and Uncle Larry until we came back to Provo to go to B.Y.U.. We do remember both of them from the family vacations we took with Mom & Dad, as kids. Uncle Larry would play ‘clap—clap—curtsy’ with us and as he curtsied, he would pull the sides of his slacks out and bow. He was very caring with kids. He always gave us sticks of gum. We all grew to love them both, dearly.

We remember the BIG weeping willow tree in their back yard and how much fun we had rolling down their hill. We also played many pretend games on top of the cement top that covered their root cellar.

Remember how Aunt Laurel would always plant pansies because that was Uncle Larry’s favorite flower? We can still see dad (Grant) and Uncle Larry switching hats and smiling for the camera’s. Dad looked weird with this little bitty hat on his head and Uncle Larry looked even more weird wearing dad’s hat that was too big and it would end up resting on his ears.

Can you remember how many hours were spent raking up the leaves on her lawn? Gloria remembers when the large plastic garbage bags first came out and how excited Aunt Laurel was to get some. She had the ability at getting excited over small things. She sent money in to the Temples for years so the work could be done for many souls. She had a wonderful testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. She always wanted to live until the Savior came. She would have dreams where her Dad and Uncle Larry would be riding in a buggy and pull up and stop the horses by her bedroom window. They would want her to come go with them, and she would say she wasn’t ready to go yet.

She had great respect for the Priesthood. She would have awful sick spells and when she felt real bad she would put her hand on the place on the bed where Uncle Larry used to lay and say a prayer. Then she would feel better.

She was also a character. Sometimes, while you were visiting with her, she would let out with a awful scream. It would startle you so. She would get these terrible leg cramps and you would think she was dying with pain. You’d try and help by getting a bowl full of cold water and she would place her foot in it and soon the pain would go away. No matter how many times you saw her go through this, it always was very alarming.

She was a great story teller and had a wonderful sense of humor. You always came away from her house feeling happier then when you entered into it. She was a very grateful person and gave Thanks to the Lord often for her many blessings.

We remember this one time that she told us she hadn’t talked to this lady for 35 years. When we asked her why, she didn’t remember, but she knew it was for a very good reason.

One thing that Aunt Laurel seemed to always do is tell you how bad she was feeling. That usually lasted about 10 minutes then you’d ask her if she wanted to go for a ride, and she would scurry to get ready to go with you. We always kidded that she would probably get off her death bed to go for a ‘ride’.

Donna remembers visiting Aunt Laurel so many times that Aunt Laurels Ward gave her a calling in the Sunday School. She had been very faithful in her service to the Lord. She always credited Uncle Larry on his support as she served. She had a great love of youth and seemed to be their great defender. You only had to be at her house around the holidays to see all the happy going on’s. Return missionaries would come see her and loved her for teaching them in Sunday School and never giving up on them. She would have many cards, plates of goodies, and many visitors. She would smile and laugh a lot, then have to pay the price by having to stay down for the next couple of days because it was hard on her.

We don’t know how much land Aunt Laurel and Uncle Larry donated to the Church, but it was a bunch. We believe at least 3 homes were built on property they donated, and when these homes were sold, they monies were given to the Ward for the Ward building fund. The Church building built right next to their home at 1074 N. 850 W. was built on the acreage that they donated to the Church. Uncle Larry’s job was to keep time on the hours donated by ward members, to build these houses. Yet, when they died, they had very little of the material things of life. We remember her eating T.V. dinners and having a cardboard table in her kitchen. I do believe the only regret she might have had was when they built the Church next door, they cut of f her view of Mt. Timpanogos that she loved so dearly.

As you read through this book, you will see that she wrote many histories about her family. She had a great commitment for family and always encouraged all of us in whatever we choose to do.

She loved the song ‘The Bridge Builder’ and wanted it sung at her funeral. At her funeral, as they took the casket out to the waiting car, the path was lined with Primary children holding daffodils. I’m sure that pleased her very much. They both had spent most of their time loving and doing for others. They were like second parents to many of us.