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REXFORD - Gilbert Paul "Gib" LaVoie, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, was born Nov. 9, 1921, in Missoula. He left us to rest in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2005.A rosary service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Eureka, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Gil was a member of Our Lady of Mercy for the last 20 years.He was preceded in death by his mother Laura (Cyr) LaVoie, father Isaac LaVoie, brother Isaac "Elmer" LaVoie, sister Lauretta (LaVoie) Perry, son-in-law Randy Gibbs and his precious grandson Brent LaVoie. Gib enlisted in the Marine Corps on July 7, 1942, to serve as an anti-aircraft gunnery sergeant. He took great pride in being a Marine. One of his favorite treasures was a Marine Corps flag presented by his son Guy that flew faithfully in his front yard. He served on both the Majuro and Marshall islands.Raised in Missoula, he moved to Spokane after the war to work for the Star Leather Co. as a traveling salesman. He sold shoe findings, leather bends and shoe machinery. Gib earned a wonderful reputation for his ability to rebuild all kinds of shoe machinery and subsequently taught that trade at the Spokane Falls Community College for several years.It was while he was working at the Star Leather Co. that Gib met the love of his life and married Nada (Brock) LaVoie. She gave him six children and they led a long and happy life together, celebrating their 59th wedding anniversary Aug. 3. During their early years together, they traveled to Bermuda, Europe and a couple of times to Alaska. Gib and Nada raised their children in Spokane and then retired to their "heaven on earth," the West Kootenai. There they built a beautiful home and spent their retirement fishing, hunting and making wonderful friends.Gib's many talents included making bird feeders, which he generously gave to people from far and wide, building puzzle rocking chairs, repairing shoe machinery and fixing all kinds of leather goods such as saddles, chaps, etc. He will always be remembered for his quick wit, his love of family and his many, many friends.He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Nada LaVoie; daughter Laura Cook and husband Ronald; son Guy LaVoie and wife Pat; son Paul LaVoie and wife Deborah; daughter Pam Gibbs; son Mark LaVoie; and daughter Janine Terrano and husband Keith. Also surviving are 20 grandchildren, Tony Cook, Michelle (Cook) Ochweri, Theresa (Cook) Burton, Laurie (Cook) Yniguez, Deanna (Cook) Madrigal, Mary (Cook) Perkins, Jeff LaVoie, Ryan LaVoie, Nicky LaVoie, Daedra LaVoie, Alisha LaVoie, Shawna Gibbs, Traci (Gibbs) Gluch, Joel LaVoie, Erin LaVoie, Tyler LaVoie, Brock Terrano, Anna Terrano, Dustin Clark and Christopher Clark; and 12 great-grandchildren, Jasmine Cook, Elizabeth Cook, Madeline Cook, Antonio Madrigal, Isaac Cook, Christian Burton, Caleb Burton, Sierra Madrigal, Cameron Burton, Addia Ochweri, Chrystopher Yniguez and Dayla LaVoie.