Phyllis Jean Gibler (Nichols), 90, of Baldwin City, KS, passed away peacefully Tuesday December 20, 2022, at Wellsville Health and Rehab, Wellsville, Kansas.
Phyllis was born in the community of Vinland (Baldwin) on January 19, 1932, to Marlin (Nic) and Mildred (Schmidt) Nichols. She grew up in and lived her entire life in the Vinland Valley area just north of Baldwin City.
Phyllis graduated from Vinland High School in 1949. She was a homemaker and managed the Farm’s accounting and other activities, and was quite resourceful. Armed with a needle, a spatula, a mixer or a pair of pliers, she could make herself and others be the best dressed individual, create an eight course 5 Star meal, bake a smorgasbord of deserts, decorate a room, and repair or repurpose an item. She was active in the PTA, a 4-H leader and a life member of the Vinland Church of Christ, being a person of deep faith.
She married Kenneth “Paul” Gibler on March 12, 1950, settling in the same community she was born. She raised four children.
Phyllis was an amazing cook and baker, teaching all of her children and grandchildren those life skills, especially making cinnamon rolls and cheesecakes. She was an accomplished seamstress, creating an untold number of outfits throughout the years. In addition, she canned hundreds of jars of produce from the annual garden, had a keen eye for decorating, used her green thumb to grow any plant indoors or outdoors, always having a brilliant flower garden.
She was preceded in death by her Father, Marlin; Mother, Mildred; Husband of 58 years, Paul; Infant Grandson, Michael Hitchcock; and Daughter-in-law, Janey Gibler.
She is survived by daughters: Pauletta (Bob) Baxter of Little Rock, AR; Rhonda (Ric) Hitchcock of Baldwin City, KS; and sons: Kent Gibler, Topeka, KS and Kevin (Lori) Gibler of Kansas City, MO; grandchildren: Kristin (Mark), Jason (Jodi), Joshua (Devon), Lindsey (Josh), Madison and Mitchell (Teagan); Great Grandchildren: Pia, Evie, Johnny, Alma, Jude, Willa, Vidallia, Christian, Sylvie, Charlie Rose and Tatum; Sister, Betty Williams of Baldwin and several nieces and nephews.
Memorials can be made to the Vinland Cemetery Association or the Vinland Fair Association.
Services will be held on Monday January 2, 2023 at 2:00 PM at the Vinland Church of Christ, 1702 N 700 Rd, Baldwin City, KS, 66006. Visitation will be 1 to 2 pm preceding the funeral service at the Vinland Church of Christ.
A special appreciation goes to the staff of Wellsville Health and Rehab, Vintage Park of Baldwin City, and Gentiva Hospice for their quality and thoughtful care.
Sorry for your loss of your mother. Thinking of all of you during this sorrowful time
Kevin and family, we always enjoyed your parents so much whenever we saw them at cattle events. So sorry for the loss of your Mother, Karen & Jack Lindstrom
We always enjoyed Phyllis when she and Paul were coming to shorthorn events, especially her active participation in the Kansas Shorthorn Lassies. Our thoughts are with all of the family at this time.
🙏 RIP 🙏