Obituary of Kandi Gibson

Kandi Gibson, 49, mother of John Charles and Savannah Stovall, the daughter of Holton Gibson of Utah and Marva Joan Elson of California and the daughter-in-law of Ed and Joy Corey of Post Falls, passed away, August 9 at 8:30 in the morning at Hospice House after a long, hard battle with cancer. She fought valiantly. Her goal was to be able to attend her son’s wedding, September 29^th of this year.  John and his fiancé, Aidan Orians, moved the location of their wedding from Portland to Post Falls to make it possible for her to attend, but God had other plans.

Kandi was positive, kind, loving, caring, fun, and adventurous, and she always had a ready smile on her face which radiated with love and warmth.  Her children meant the world to her and she was very proud of them. Her children looked up to her and were equally as proud of her. She never shied away from telling her kids, family, and friends how much she loved and cared about them. During her lifetime she cared for many sick and dying souls as a CNA. She became well known in the care community for her compassion and the relationships she built with residents and her co-workers. She had a love for people, motorcycles, dancing and meditating alone at the beach before work in the early hours of the morning with a cup of coffee as she watched the sun come up.  She captured these moments in the lens of her camera.

During her bout with cancer, she never complained and smiled throughout her ordeal.  No matter how much pain she was in, she managed to thank everyone for helping her whether it was during her time at KMC, the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Northwest, or at home with her family or the  physical therapist, occupational therapist or speech therapist who attended to her in her apartment.  She consistently thanked them and expressed her appreciation for their services.  She often apologized; she often said to her caregivers “I love you” and even told one of her doctors, “You are amazing doctor! I love you” and to her nurses “You are doing a great job. Thank you!”

She is survived by her two children, her sisters Kim and Kelley and brothers Gil and Luke, as well as four half-siblings, all of whom live in California. She will be sorely missed and remembered always for her kindness, gentle spirit, and radiating smile.   A Celebration of Life event is being planned for some time in the future.  We will update on this website when we have a date.

If you wish to make a donation in her memory, the family suggests such donations be made to Hospice House, who cared lovingly for her as she exited this life, or to Breast Cancer Fund or Research, to help rid the world of this wretched disease that so ravaged her.

Kandi’s children were her pride and joy.  She waited for both John and Savannah to be present with her before she would leave this earthly realm to move on to her heavenly home.  She died peacefully with her children holding her hands in theirs only after having first opened her eyes to gaze at their faces one last time and then she departed this life peacefully.

When she passed away, she had a smile on her face.  Even in death, her smile brought comfort!  May her memory be eternal!