Evie Kolman Gibson, 69, of Gorham, passed away at the Morrison Nursing Home after a period of declining health. She was born on July 26, 1950 in a refugee camp in Grafenaschau, Bavaria, Germany the daughter of Vladeak “Kim” and Jaroslava “Jery” (Korinkova) Kolman and immigrated to the United States as a small child. She grew up in Brewer, Maine, attending local schools and graduated from the University of Maine at Orono with a Bachelors in Elementary Education, minor in math.
Evie had a passion for scouting. She obtained the Curved Bar (now called the Gold Award), which is the highest achievement awarded in Girl Scouts, was an active Den Leader, Advancement Chairman, and working at summer camps. Between her years in Girl Scouts and support of Boy Scouts, she has over 55 years in Scouting. She went thru the Junior Maine Guide Program at Camp Natarswi on the edge of the Allagash Wilderness. She was also involved with Rainbow Girls, a youth sorority sponsored by Masonic lodges. When not involved with Scout or Summer Camp, she spent the majority of her summers on a small ‘pond’ in Downeast Maine, where the only running water was in the brook out back and there were more loons than people.
For the last 15 years, Evie and Ed have taken their vacations to volunteer at a music festival in New York state, helping to sell the performers music. She spent many years with Theatre North, on stage acting, back stage with set construction, and as a stage hand and on the board. She really loved the theatre. Over the last 40 years, Evie has been involved with the Gorham Congregational Church. She taught Sunday School, helped with meals, the annual Christmas tree fair and was the church secretary for several years. She also assisted the church in sponsoring a Vietnamese family to Gorham. All of the family has become highly successful, including the grandchildren. She was an avid reader, crafter and gardener. She has been a news paper reporter and photographer, a foreign exchange student coordinator and a crafter for the ‘Creative Dove’ craft shop.
She was employed by Northern Human Services for almost 20 years where she helped adults with disabilities live on there own as much as they are able. While it was technically ‘work for pay’, she never considered it a job, helping others make their lives better was her passion. Previously, she had worked in Patton and Madison, Maine as an elementary school teacher.
All of that being said, her focus was always on being a good mother to the best of her ability. She loved her children, and her clients, unconditionally.
Members of the family include her husband Edward J. Gibson of Gorham; son Brian S. Gibson of Texas; daughter Cynthia Gibson Murphy and husband Rich of Massachusetts; mother Jery Perkins of Augusta, ME; brothers Donny Kolman and Peter Kolman, both of Augusta, ME and brother-in-law David Gibson and wife Nancy of Bayville, NJ. She was predeceased by her father and step father Newell Perkins.
A Funeral Service will be held at the Gorham Congregational Church on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 11am. Interment will take place in the Evans Cemetery. Friends and relatives are invited to call on the family on Friday, November 15th from 2-4pm at the Bryant Funeral Home, 180 Hillside Ave., Berlin. Donations in Evie’s memory may be made to The Morrison Communities, 6 Terrace Street, Whitefield, NH 03598 to be used for resident activities. Messages of condolence may be shared online at www.bryantfuneralhome.net