Maurice and his twin brother Marvin were born to John and Mamie Gibbs, three years to the day after the birth of their older brother, Ervin. While the boys were young, the family lived in a house located on Carty Street in Salem, Mo. Their father was a carpenter by trade and by the time Maurice was 10 years old, John Gibbs had bought land and built a house on the west side of Salem. Maurice grew up, playing and roughhousing with his two brothers, later joined by a sister who often joined in on the boys' antics. Another brother was born into the family when Maurice was ten, but Little Paul, as he was called, died at the age of two of diphtheria. By the time Maurice was an early teen, he had learned to play the guitar. He often entertained gatherings of family and friends. When Maurice was into his teenage years, there was another sister and brother born into the Gibbs family. Maurice graduated from Salem High School and was soon thereafter married to Della Nash. The couple lived in Salem and Maurice worked as a carpenter with his dad. After a few years, they moved to St. Louis where Maurice worked as a painter with his brother, Marvin. At the start of WWII, Maurice was inducted into the Army Air Force on 15 Feb. 1942. In December of that year, he went overseas and served there for the next 28 months in the 407th School Squadron in Egypt, Iran, Libya and Tunisia. Injuries brought him back to the U.S. and he spent three months in the Army hospital at Palm Spring, CA. He was honorably discharged on 18 Oct 1945.
Although the couple enjoyed several years of marriage, after effects of his injuries from the War, plus the death of an infant daughter born to them was devastating for the couple and so much so, that their marriage ended in divorce. Maurice moved to Oklahoma thereafter and his family lost track of him for several years. An occasional trip back to Salem by Maurice would lift the family's spirits in hopes he had recovered from his losses. Maurice's untimely and early death was difficult for his mother and siblings, yet it didn't diminish the fond memories they had of Maurice, his quiet, unassuming ways and his amazing musical ability. God, rest his gentle soul.
Although the couple enjoyed several years of marriage, after effects of his injuries from the War, plus the death of an infant daughter born to them was devastating for the couple and so much so, that their marriage ended in divorce. Maurice moved to Oklahoma thereafter and his family lost track of him for several years. An occasional trip back to Salem by Maurice would lift the family's spirits in hopes he had recovered from his losses. Maurice's untimely and early death was difficult for his mother and siblings, yet it didn't diminish the fond memories they had of Maurice, his quiet, unassuming ways and his amazing musical ability. God, rest his gentle soul.
Maurice and his twin brother Marvin were born to John and Mamie Gibbs, three years to the day after the birth of their older brother, Ervin. While the boys were young, the family lived in a house located on Carty Street in Salem, Mo. Their father was a carpenter by trade and by the time Maurice was 10 years old, John Gibbs had bought land and built a house on the west side of Salem. Maurice grew up, playing and roughhousing with his two brothers, later joined by a sister who often joined in on the boys' antics. Another brother was born into the family when Maurice was ten, but Little Paul, as he was called, died at the age of two of diphtheria. By the time Maurice was an early teen, he had learned to play the guitar. He often entertained gatherings of family and friends. When Maurice was into his teenage years, there was another sister and brother born into the Gibbs family. Maurice graduated from Salem High School and was soon thereafter married to Della Nash. The couple lived in Salem and Maurice worked as a carpenter with his dad. After a few years, they moved to St. Louis where Maurice worked as a painter with his brother, Marvin. At the start of WWII, Maurice was inducted into the Army Air Force on 15 Feb. 1942. In December of that year, he went overseas and served there for the next 28 months in the 407th School Squadron in Egypt, Iran, Libya and Tunisia. Injuries brought him back to the U.S. and he spent three months in the Army hospital at Palm Spring, CA. He was honorably discharged on 18 Oct 1945.
Although the couple enjoyed several years of marriage, after effects of his injuries from the War, plus the death of an infant daughter born to them was devastating for the couple and so much so, that their marriage ended in divorce. Maurice moved to Oklahoma thereafter and his family lost track of him for several years. An occasional trip back to Salem by Maurice would lift the family's spirits in hopes he had recovered from his losses. Maurice's untimely and early death was difficult for his mother and siblings, yet it didn't diminish the fond memories they had of Maurice, his quiet, unassuming ways and his amazing musical ability. God, rest his gentle soul.
Although the couple enjoyed several years of marriage, after effects of his injuries from the War, plus the death of an infant daughter born to them was devastating for the couple and so much so, that their marriage ended in divorce. Maurice moved to Oklahoma thereafter and his family lost track of him for several years. An occasional trip back to Salem by Maurice would lift the family's spirits in hopes he had recovered from his losses. Maurice's untimely and early death was difficult for his mother and siblings, yet it didn't diminish the fond memories they had of Maurice, his quiet, unassuming ways and his amazing musical ability. God, rest his gentle soul.
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