She was born on December 21st, 1927 to Nort and Gladys Phillips at their home in Akron, Mo, delivered by a doctor that arrived by horse and buggy from Iowa.
She married her loving husband Robert Gibson on August 2nd, 1948. They were married 54 years until Bob passed away December 25th, 2002.
Their first child Tracy Eugene was born in 1962, but only survived a few days. A year later Reed Robert was born on Aug 19th, 1963, he was the joy of their life.
In her lifetime, she was a schoolteacher, an artist, and a licensed hairstylist. She began teaching in a one room schoolhouse in Akron, MO. the very same school she attended as a child. After a few years of farming, she and Bob moved to Kansas City, MO where she worked as an artist for Hallmark Cards and he worked at Bendix (Allied Signal). Once Reed was born, she became a hair stylist and opened a salon in their home, which allowed her to spend more time with him. She later obtained her degree from CMSU and became a teacher. She taught kindergarten at Englewood Christian School in Independence, MO for several years until she retired.
After retiring, she and Bob moved to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, where they made many new friends. They enjoyed square dancing, traveling all over the US and even took a cruise through the Panama Canal. Juanita also rediscovered her love of painting, primarily watercolors of birds and butterflies. She participated in many art shows, selling her artwork, until she was 90. She received awards and accolades for her artwork and was commissioned to paint for several nature organizations.
She is survived by her son Reed (Dorena) Gibson, brothers Carmen (Dorothy) Phillips and Carol (Norma) Phillips, sister-in-law Juanita Phillips, and longtime friend Dave Hanson.
She is proceeded in death by her husband Robert Gibson, parents Nort and Gladys Phillips, brothers Paul Phillips and Marvin Phillips.
Burial with graveside service will be held at Akron Cemetery Saturday December 5th at 1 PM. Due to COVID, masks and social distancing will be required. Tributes may be left at www.bethanymemorialchapel.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to your local food bank, American Cancer society or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.