Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Glenna Fay Gibbons was born in Picher, Okla., on Nov. 29, 1938, the youngest of five born to Orval and Cora (Drennan) Gibbons. Orval worked for the lead and zinc mines in Picher, but Cora suffered from asthma in the humid northeast corner of Oklahoma. Orval’s brother had written from White Salmon, Wash., telling of the clean, dry air of the Pacific Northwest. Orval left Oklahoma and came to Oregon in 1941 and found work in the woods. He sent word to the family to come join him, and in 1942 Cora and their five children drove a 1934 Chevy pickup to Mosier, Ore. Thus began Glenna’s childhood in Mosier at age 3. The family lived in town and Glenna started first grade at Mosier School.
Glenna was an outgoing person from the start, and she participated in many school and church activities and clubs, until graduation in 1956, with her diploma, and many, many life-long friends. One of those activities included dating a young redhead from up Mosier Creek who had graduated from Mosier in 1953. After graduation, Glenna moved to Seattle, Wash., and stayed at a boarding house for young ladies while working for a downtown business. Typically, Glenna made many more lifelong friends during this time. A recurring theme throughout her years, once you entered her circle, you were pretty much guaranteed a spot there for the duration. Following her time in Seattle, Glenna moved back to Oregon, and settled in Portland where she continued her secretarial work and helped to care for her many nieces and nephews. It was during this time that she rekindled her relationship with the redhead from Mosier Creek, who had just returned from a hitch in the army.
In June of 1961, Glenna married Ed McCargar and began a life together that would last until her passing. In 1963, they had their first son, Kelly, and in 1965 they welcomed his brother Morgan. Ed and Glenna returned to Mosier to raise their family and Glenna worked at Mosier School, the Hood River Sports Club and Sprint. The years that followed were filled to the brim, and then some, with swimming lessons, cub scouts, boy scouts, 4-H, Little League, school sports, band programs and plays, and the usual scrapes, scratches, cuts, and bruises that raising two boys out on Mosier Creek entailed. Glenna was tirelessly cheerful and selfless in raising her family, and always gave of her time to make sure that they had as many opportunities as possible. Probably sooner than she expected, the boys were off to the army and college, and Glenna filled her new free time with activity in the Friends of Mosier High School, Home Extension, the Mosier Library, and her church.
Retirement followed and Ed and Glenna filled the time with trips and visiting friends and family. A highlight was a return to Picher in 2002 to visit the old home, and several relatives in Oklahoma and Missouri. Even more special was Glenna and Ed’s 50th anniversary bash at the Mosier Grange Hall, complete with the legendary Huskey family providing music for all to enjoy. It was truly one of the last great get-togethers of the many people and friends who had grown up and graduated from Mosier High School and who meant so much to her.
Glenna is survived by her husband Ed, her sons, Kelly (Becki) and Morgan (Annette), numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews, her extra “kiddo’s” Todd Stevens and Dick Yarington, and Hogan.
A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 16 at Hood River Valley Christian Church with reception and fellow ship to follow. Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, Ore. Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.
To plant a tree in memory of Glenna McCargar as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
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