Zoe Kibby

Zoe Bertha (Fish) Kibby was born March 30, 1923, to Amasa Randall and Bertha Jane (Copeland) Fish outside of Avoca, Iowa, in Shelby County. Zoe lived in the Harlan and Avoca areas and attended country schools until the age of 13. Zoe married  Raymond Edward Whelan in 1939, and to this union one son was born. Zoe married Cless Richard Kibby in 1944. The couple was blessed with three children. Zoe worked at the Gold Slipper, Safari Club, and the Dunlap Livestock Auction as a cook. She was the supervisor for a corn detassling crew and also a bean hoeing crew in the summer months.

Zoe was a member of the Congregational Church. She served as the treasurer for Sunday school and for Missions. Zoe enjoyed going south for the winter  starting in 1982; spending 20 winters in Texas. She enjoyed bus tours to Washington DC, Branson, and Nashville, and enjoyed dancing and playing cards.

Zoe died on Wednesday, September 5, 2018, at the Community Memorial Hospital in Missouri Valley at the age of 95 years, five months and six days.

Zoe was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Raymond Whelan and Cless Kibby; son, Lonnie Randall Whelan; infant daughter, Kyla Kay Kibby; three sisters, Mae Pope, Maude Page and Belle Pope; two brothers, Clell and Harry Fish; and son-in-law, Leslie Soma. She is survived by two sons, Kevin Kibby of Osceola, Missouri and Kelly (Rosalee)  Kibby of Giddings, Texas; one daughter, Keva Soma of Dunlap, Iowa; three grandsons, Todd (Erin) Soma, Chad (Susan) Soma and Lon (Ann  Margaret) Whelan, Jr; eight great grandchildren, Hunter, Jesse, Hayden, Zoey and Cale Soma and Ryann, Nick and Carly Whelan; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.