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Mickey Gibson (Margaret Eloise Gibson, nee Blanchard), 90, a ten year resident of Albuquerque, died peacefully at home December 19, 2008, surrounded by family. Mickey is survived by her son Michael Gibson and his wife Joan; and granddaughter Robin Gibson of Albuquerque; daughter Kathy Prentki and her husband Dick; and grandchildren Rachel and Mathew Prentki of Anchorage, Alaska; brother Howard (Bud) Blanchard of Vienna, VA; grandson Christopher Rooney; and great-granddaughter Claire of Minnesota; granddaughter Jean Rooney; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Donald H. Gibson; daughter Patricia Rooney and her husband John; and her sister Mary Ann Snow. Mickey had a lifelong curiosity and zest for life that led her along amazing trails. She played trumpet in the University of Colorado marching band and became a rock climber there, graduating with a BS degree in physical education in 1939. She was a lifelong member of the UC Hiking Club. She won or placed in several bowling tournaments and carried a low golf handicap, winning the first flight in the New Mexico state golf tournament in 1965. Mickey worked as a quality control technician for Lockheed Aircraft Works during WWII, taught high school math and science in Evergreen, CO, and then served as microscopist and accelerator specialist at Los Alamos National Laboratories during the last 20+ years of her working career. Upon retirement she and Don travelled through Europe by bus, ferry and train for several months, stopping as whimsy led them. They spent several years traveling in a motor home through Mexico, Canada and the United States, including Alaska. The motor home travel sparked an interest in bird watching that continued to her death. She continued to travel the world after Don's death, alone or in small group tours, collecting friends, photos, memories and bird sightings for her life list-South Africa, Argentina, Peru, Galapagos, Egypt, France, Wales, Greece, Thailand and others. In retirement Mickey also was proud to be a reader for National Library Service for the Blind and a US Forest Service volunteer on the Dungeness Peninsula. At Mickey's request there will be no immediate service. She asked that friends fly a kite in her memory. A celebration of her life will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to PB&J Family Services, 1101 Lopez SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105, or a charity of your choice.
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