Mary Ellen (Burns) Gibbs

Mary Ellen Burns Gibbs died on September 10, 2023, in Holladay, Utah.

Born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin to Robert Emmet Burns and Charlotte Calvert Burns, she had a drive for life from the beginning and never saw herself limited by the traditions of the time. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin Suma Cum Laude and became a CPA at age 20. After moving west, she met her husband, Richard Park Gibbs, married in the LDS Manti, Utah temple and embarked on 63 years of marriage and motherhood in Oregon, Montana, Wisconsin, and Utah.

Mary Ellen always had a love of learning; she continuously sought new skills and education was a driving force in her children’s lives to pursue excellence and independence. She found great joy in literature. She read hundreds of books and even authored her own book. She painted in pastel artwork and enjoyed spending time with her horse, “Prika.” She enjoyed knitting, sewing, and collecting recipe books. Her greatest joy, however, was in her ever-growing photo gallery of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and she would take pride in sharing it with visiting family and friends.

Mary Ellen exhibited kindness and enjoyed conversing with everyone she met. She is survived by her husband Richard, her sister Charlotte, her 11 children, 27 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.

Graveside services for Mary Ellen Burns Gibbs will be held on Friday, September 15, 2023 at 12:30pm at Elysian Burial Gardens located at 1075 East 4580 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84117.

Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 4:30pm at the Olympus LDS Chapel located at 3070 East Nila Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84124