Morris A. (Tom) Gibbons, 78, of Vero Beach, Fl, died December 31, 2002 at his residence following a prolonged illness.

He was born on July 17, 1924, in Tucker's Town, Bermuda and had been a resident of Vero Beach since 1947. Tom graduated from Saltus Grammar School in Bermuda and went to Port Hope, Canada where he attended Trinity College School. During the Second World War, Tom spent four years as a Lieutenant in the Bermuda Militia Infantry and also served for a time as an Air Gunner in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Tom formerly owned and managed Glo-Mor Groves and Gibbons Photography. He was an active member of the Vero Beach community for many years. Tom served as Squad Chief of the Indian River County Volunteer Ambulance Squad and was the first president of the Vero Beach Little Theatre Group.

He was the first recipient of the Vero Beach Police Department Good Citizenship Award in 1967. He also was honoured as a Life Member of the Parent-Teacher Association of America. He was very active in his children's schools during the `60's and `70's. He started the Rosewood School Carnival and donated and ran the candy apple booth at the St. Helen School Harvest Festival for many years.

Tom was predeceased by his father Morris A. Gibbons, his mother Madge Welch Gibbons of Bermuda and his sister Ann Gibbons Staskow . Tom is survived by his wife of 56 years, Gloria; eight children and their spouses, Darby and Patti Gibbons, Chuck and Marie Gibbons, Mark and Barbara Gibbons, Carter and Rose Gibbons, Gloria (Gibbons) and Richard Tejera , Heather (Gibbons) and Joe Lowther, Madge (Gibbons) & Tim Dobeck and Kevin & Roxane Gibbons.

He was the proud grandfather of 19 grandchildren (affectionately called Pappa by his grandchildren, Sean Gibbons, Tambi Cobb, Chad Gibbons, Kristin Ohler , Amy Gibbons, Emily Gibbons, Travis Gibbons, Jordan Lowther, Joshua Dobeck , Matthew Towther , Dax Tejera , Brandon Gibbons, Zachary Dobeck , Justin, Tejera , Erin Dobeck , Dylan Lowther, Morgan Lowther, Dana Gibbons, and Tristan Gibbons, and five great-grandchildren. Tom is also survived by his sister Barbara Gibbons Peabody of Boston, Massachusetts and one niece, Barbara Peabody Cusick of New York, Endicott and Robert Peabody of Massachusetts and Frank Evans and David Bowker of Canada.

A visitation was held on Thursday, January 2, 2003 from 5-8 pm at Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home.

A funeral service was held on Friday January 3, 2002 at 10 a.m. at Twentieth Avenue Church of God with Pastor Joe Brooks officiating.