Lois Basse Gibbs

Lois Basse Gibbs, 94, Scout, Seamstress, St. Joseph Samaritan, passed away, Friday, October 31, 2014 at Caretel Inns of Lakeland, St. Joseph. Celebration in honor of Lois Basse Gibbs will commence at 1:30 PM on Sat., Aug. 15 at Starks-Menchinger Family Funeral Home:2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI. 49085  www.starks-menchinger. com; date of death was 10-31-14. At 2:30, Rev. Eric Thorsen will officiate an informal ceremony, with a time for sharing memories.  Afterward family and friends are invited to a beach-time supper in St. Joseph – Details will be provided after the service. Private burial has taken place at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph.  Memorial donations may be made to First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2001 Niles Avenue, St. Joseph, MI 49085 or Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana/Michiana, 10008 DuPont Circle Dr. E., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825.   Those wishing to sign Lois’ Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Lois was born March 24, 1920 in Detroit, Michigan to William H. & Hulda (Pudewa) Basse.  She graduated from Highland Park High School and studied ballet with the Detroit Metropolitan Ballet Troupe before enrolling at the University of Michigan, where she earned a B. A. degree in history. On November 28, 1942, she married Raymond J. Gibbs who was a commander in the U.S. Naval Reserves.  In 1938 Lois was Michigan’s delegate at the All-America Girl Scout Camp in Salt Lake City, and her devotion to scouting continued through many years as a leader and trainer.  She was a member of First Congregational UCC where she was active in the UNITA Club, the AAUW (American Association of University Women), University of Michigan Alumni Association, Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, Grand Mere Association, and the Shoreham Garden Club.  In her free time Lois enjoyed sewing, knitting, bridge & bowling. She was preceded in death by her husband Raymond in 1969; two daughters, Charlene Champley in 1999, Patricia Deckard in 2004; brother William Basse; and niece Frances “Boo” Basse Crofton. Lois is survived by her daughter Jennifer Gibbs Rose of Hoffman Estates, IL; eight grandchildren-Jimmy Deckard, Amanda Deckard, Sara Champley Dyson, Dana Champley Durocher, Lorna Rose Hahn, Louis Rose, Stuart Rose & Spence Rose; seven great grandchildren-MacKenzie, Natalie, Emily, Kylie, Ashley, Presley, & Sawyer; and three Basse nephews-William, Roger, & Richard; as well as extended Gibbs family.