1925 – 2015

NORWAY — Dribbling a basketball down the court or cartwheeling and cavorting about, Zylpha Eloise (Morgan) Gibbs earned her lifelong nickname Zip early on. Her endless energy continued throughout her life as she grew up, married, raised five girls and enjoyed her time with her beloved grandchildren. Zylpha, of Bryant Pond, died peacefully in Norway on Friday, Jan. 16, at the age of 89.

Zylpha was born on Aug. 29, 1925, in Bryant Pond to Willie and Tena (Cole) Morgan. After graduation, Zylpha moved to New Hampshire with her parents, brother, LeRoy, and sister, Wynona, where they were employed at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard during World War II.

She married Thomas Linsbeck and moved to Virginia, where she worked as a hostess in a swank D.C. restaurant and met stars such as Milton Berle (“a real nice man”) and Gene Autry (“full of himself!”).

Zip moved back to Maine and married George Norton Emmons Jr. in Bryant Pond, where they raised their family in an old farmhouse. Norton and Zylpha, together with her parents, ran a business making and selling birdhouses and feeders. She was also employed at Stowell’s Silk and Spool Company in Bryant Pond. In later life, Zylpha happily married George Gibbs (predeceased), her loving companion in her golden years.

She is survived by her children, Joan and David Bartlett, Susan Rainey, Joy and Floyd Sumner, Pamela and Joseph Hebert and Tena Linsbeck-Perron and Bruce Perron. Zylpha was lovingly known as Nanie, Grammie and Grams by her many grandchildren, Derek Vail, Jeff Rainey, Corey Sumner, April Harris, Angela Haines, Sarah Lane, Timothy Hebert, Amy Hebert, Jeremy Perron, Mia Foley Perron and Juliann Brown. On top of all that, Zip adored her 24 great-grandchildren. Zylpha shared a special bond with her granddaughter, Amy, who was her “roomie” for many years.

She was predeceased by her grandsons, Douglas Vail and Michael Rainey.

Zylpha was an avid reader, and her prowess as a gardener was well-known in her family. She was the go-to person in all things horticultural. She enjoyed puzzles and cards. Her homemade cinnamon rolls, yeast bread and Finnish “nissua” were family favorites. She was a member of the congregation at Locke Mills Union Church and found solace in her faith.

The family would like to thank those who took care of Zylpha during her later years.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.