Lynn Gibson

August 22, 1969 - April 27, 2021

Lynn Ann Gibson was born in Rhode Island on August 22, 1969, and died unexpectedly at her home in Portland, OR on April 27, 2021. Lynn was the oldest of Robert and Martha Gibson’s three daughters. She is survived by her mother, Martha Zink Gibson, two sisters Leslie Ellen Carlson (Gibson) and Julie Kay Gibson, and sons Isaiah Robert Johnson and Kenan Hawke Johnson. Lynn is predeceased by her father, Robert Clayton Gibson III, by only three months. Lynn shared her life with Rodger Axthelm and his son, Hunter. She loved them both with her fierce brand of affection. Please keep them in your thoughts. Lynn lived an adventurous life and her career went hand-in-hand with this spirit. Like her parents, Lynn dedicated her life to the healing of others. The medical community in Portland, (specifically at at Emanuel and Kaiser) are mourning her loss. Before becoming a mother, Lynn was a competitive ski racer, rock climber, wind surfer, and all around cool person to walk paths with. She attended University of Oregon, and established a career in healthcare. She was a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa, and left her mark on many places in the world. Lynn’s two boys, Isaiah and Kenan, remain witnesses to her generosity and kind soul. Please keep them in your hearts and prayers during this difficult time. If you feel compelled to perform an act in Lynn’s memory, please donate to efforts at slowing the impact of COVID worldwide. Lynn selflessly gave of herself during this pandemic without looking back. She rushed in while others fled. Lynn was an explorer and an adventurist. During the times when it was a challenge to understand “why” she did what she did, we were always comforted in the knowing that it was done with a full heart and would take away the breath of those less brave. Hers was a dazzling life cut short.

Lynn's Obituary page

Lynn's sister, Julie Gibson, put this beautiful family video together: watch -->>here. *Be sure to click the volume.

Memories of Lynn, from some of her friends at Mt Hood Summer Ski Camps, where she had worked in the late 80s.

.So sad & 💔! The world has lost a modern day super hero & far too soon! Our times at MHSSC were the most amazing & memorable times.
~Nancy Schmeler

I regret that I had lost touch with Lynn. She was an amazing light of positive energy. I remember her writing Dr. Seuss style poetry on paper plates and giving them out to a few of us, one late night at snow bunny. I remember her unplugging toilets with a plumber snake, laughing the whole time! I remember her singing. I remember that she made all of us laugh day after day and that she was kind to everyone. I looked at old photo albums last night and found many pictures of her and all of you. This was an important time in my life as I'm sure it was for many of you. What I realize, is that it never occurred to me that I would not see Lynn again, even though it has been about 25 years. Time has gone way too quickly in life.
~Lori Biddulph-Deisroth

Such a tragic loss. Thank you Lori for reminding me of some of the quirky awesome things about Lynn. I remember this one time a couple of guys were trying to talk to us through the car window and had their hands on the window as we tried to close it. She would always make a joke about “fingers“ and say it in a creepy voice that made me laugh every time. She will be missed.
~Jen Annett-Bard

So, I wish I had a singular story. What I can remember is that impish smile and her laughter… those incredible guffaws without prompt at the most unexpected moments. The times in late August when I’d roll in late to the Bun, beat shit tired from an afternoon activity, be it a bus drive back from the river or wrangling the East Coast kids at Timothy Lake, a busted or one time sunken ski boat at Pine Lake, she was there with that human care and wit, covered in the daily grease of prep for dinner and still with more than enough gas in the tank to help make me feel great about my day and get through a video session with the last humans I wanted to see. At the Trillium Lake all camps gatherings she attended her voice ringing through the forest was priceless. God she was such a crack up at the most delirious and hardest of moments when I needed a lift and rise to the next task. How do you do that, there has to be a lesson in this eh? Perhaps this is what Lynn leaves us with… unbelievable and unwavering perseverance in the joy with we are best at and even the stuff we don’t do so well with. Okay, I guess I do have my story of Lynn Gibson, my heart is broken however, I believe now after thought of how powerful her spirit sits with me, I have again what she gave me those dog days in August a renewed energy in what I do and love in the air when I have to fight for love of the game.
~Jack Suierveld

I remember her big smile and being short. But then again, pretty much everyone is short. It’s a tall thing. (*He's about 6' 7")
~Ray Dicius

I’m so saddened to hear this news. I have so many amazing memories of my adventures with Lynn way back in the late 80s and 90s. My MHSSC janitor mentor, who taught me how best to smuggle out extra cookies from the Snowbunny pantry. One of my first climbing partners and all our epic adventures- including us throwing our rope (not tied into anything) off the top of a tower in Smith and having to wait for some strangers to wander by to climb it back up to us. Topping out countless problems in the dark and speed walking back to the parking lot up and over Misery Ridge. Lynn resorting to taking off her sports bra to loosen a stuck locking biner on Frenches Dome. Her clapping continuously as we walked in the dark through J-Tree to scare away snakes because she had just read all about the black mambas she was going to encounter in Namibia. Climbing slabs in J-Tree in our bikini tops. So many letters (complete with her amazing cartoons and creative song lyrics) exchanged while she was in the Peace Corps and I was away at college. We never got around to our tube top ascent of Monkey Face. We had lost touch the last many years but I always thought we’d cross paths again for at least one more adventure. Thank you for all the amazing times, my friend. I wish I had the best mix tape ever made with me that you gave me during our time at Smith - I’m playing all the songs I can remember from it on repeat today. You made the world a brighter place for all that you met and you are so missed."
~Julie Janus

Such sad news. I have such found memories of my time at camp with her.
~Karen Brazier

Such a beautiful smile and spirit! My heart shall always carry wonderful memories of Snowbunny Lodge and Lynn... her laughter , her zest for life...ski racing...
~Ridgley Reece

She was bigger than life and a talented ski racer. It was such a pleasure to reconnect on Facebook and share some memories and laughs. She always had a smile, and was always game for whatever adventure we all had planned for our weekends off. I was hoping to reconnect this August at Mt Hood Summer Ski Camp. My sincere condolences to her entire family.
~Paul Richardson

I remember the day after the last day of ski camp in 1986, our first summer working at camp. Mike sent me and Lynn back on the hill to look for and retrieve broken gates, parts, anything of value. After finding a broken stubby or two in the rocks, we started poaching some other ski camps' GS course as if we owned the place (her idea). I remember her working the drive-thru window at the McDonalds in Portland on West Burnside street and her trying to give me a hug thru the drive-thru window. I remember her talking me running in Forest Park. She let me set the pace because I'm slow and she's fast. I remember the parties in Wenatchee and Bend when her U of Oregon ski team were in town for races. But mostly I remember all the great times with Lynn and the rest of the 80's crew at snowbunny. Miss you, love you.
~Robin Cressy

I can not believe it. This is heartbreaking. There just isn’t the words...
~Kathy Bonner

This is so sad. Lynn was always smiling and made me laugh every day. We all had so much fun together. Nothing will ever compare to those Snowbunny days.
~Kim Soloski

What a sad shock to hear of Lynn's passing. Such an awesome person....Man, things like this are when you really realize how many years have passed since the MHSSC days. It seems like yesterday when Lynn and I were at a Tracy Chapman concert in Portland.
~Bob Geyer

Don't even know what to say. How is this even possible?! We've only been in touch via FB but I was sure I'd be seeing her again in person at some point. She was the awesomest and it just ain't right.
~Steve Heuer

My clearest memory of Lynn is looking at the back of her as I'd chase her on the run from Snow Bunny to Govie. She was truly a good soul, what a sad time for her family.
~Susan Gauss

So very sorry. She was so nice.
~Vance Lemley

I remember her well. Very cool and lots of fun.
~Chris Cota

Lynn Gibson I am so very saddened to hear of your passing. I miss you. I can't stop thinking about you and I have been having some vivid dreams. Maybe it's because you were such a big part of my 'formative years.' Maybe it's because I knew you when I was 15-22 and my kids are now in that age range. Maybe it's because you were such a larger-than-life personality. Whatever the case, I find myself reminiscing about the days when I knew you, which was in HS and college. We skied on the ski team, UO, with Teresa Kemink, and several others who are not on FB, like Amy, and Jeanne. I can think of the van rides to ski races where you would keep us laughing for hours while perfectly reciting the lyrics to Milli Vanilli. Your positive energy and zest for life, competition and adventure will forever shape who I am today. Julie Keenan, Maria Eckholt-Hendergart and I shared a dormitory at University of Oregon with Lynn. We may have strategically 'borrowed' some food and beverages from the catering department, stored them in our ceilings, and lived a more fulfilling Freshman year due to Lynn's ingenuity. Robin Cressy, Nancy Schmeler, Kim Soloski, Karen Brazier, Lori Deisroth, Steven F Heuer, RidgleyElisabeth Eastman, Jennifer Otten and more had the pleasure of spending several summers with Lynn Gibson skiing, cooking, driving decrepit green vans to/from picnics, riding bikes down the Mt. Hood access road helmet-less, and white-water rafting the Deschutes river asking for beer hand-outs. Thank you Mt. Hood Summer Ski Camps for introducing me to Lynn. I hope my own kids are able to find a friend to push their limits, make them laugh and challenge them athletically and academically like Lynn did for me. Rest in Peace my friend.
~Amy (McNees) Van Valkenburg

So many years have passed since my sister, Lynn, and I spent an entire summer together at Mt. Hood. So much happened before and after. But that summer remains the sweet spot for my big sister and me. Lynn was 5 years older than me, and in childhood, that may as well be decades. But one summer, I was desperate to not just make varsity women's ski team, but to come close to the bar Lynn had set. So off to MHSSC I went. For the entire summer. Lynn was camp staff, and I idolized her while basking in the light cast by my big sister's glow. Lynn was such a good racer, she would get sponsorships and forget to mention them. It just came along with being the force that she was. I LOVED being her little sis at camp. From riding the "blue bus" from the lodge so I could salt the courses along with the staff to slow down the afternoon melt, to pulling gates and helping store them for the following day's training, I was hungry for it all and Lynn made room in the circle for me. She would tell me fireside tales of nights at the Ratskeller, and holy shit did I think I was rad just for knowing it happened. So many years have passed, and life takes us down paths we never would have dreamed. (I distinctly remember the gorge in my throat at the thought of dating a guy who wasn't a ski racer). One day, we wake up and so much has changed. One day, I woke up and my sister was gone from this human experience. But oh what a legacy she left behind. I'm pretty sure she "let" me do a huge chunk of her staff tasks... and I would do them again just to have campers walk by and ask what I was up to. "Making all your sandwiches for lunch tomorrow." Feeling cool as nails. My sister wasn't perfect, and not one of us can claim to be that. But that summer... she let me salt, she would stop by my group for long enough to make sure I ate enough, but not long enough to embarrass me. I was allowed to tune my skis with the other staff. Amy Van Valkenburg, you made me feel safe on nights when demons would invade my sleep. Robin Cressy, you all made me feel like part of the family. The unilateral agreement among all staff that Peekaboo Street was a bitchy liftline-cutter was shared with me while all of the other campers had their jaws stuck in a groupie-hang of the Olympic skier who blessed us with a few training weeks on our glacier. On days when it would rain on the glacier, we would do "semi-dryland", essentially jumping our bodies and soaked equipment in criss-cross marks across the slush. Over and over. One of the coaches... a guy whose name escapes me, but who had a full beard and could pound down a slalom course with waist-high ruts... made me feel like a good racer. And the time that there was a super-g course set right under the lift. Watching Lynn absorb the bumps with no perceptible lift, keeping her low tuck. That was a beautiful thing to watch. And you, sister, are a beautiful thing to remember.
~Julie Gibson (Lynn's sister)