Margaret “Missy” Benedict

Margaret “Missy” Gibson Benedict died on Saturday, May 15, 2021, in West Jordan, Utah, at the age of 60. She was born on February 25, 1961, in Long Beach, Calif., daughter of Randolph Ray Gibson and Mary Jeannette Gibson.

Everyone called my sister Missy. She was a woman who exemplified kindness and charity to her many siblings and friends. Like her father, she loved the sport of baseball. She competed for years as a softball player, even coaching within the sport.

Missy graduated from Long Beach (Calif.) City College with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She initially worked at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. She later moved to Salt Lake City, Utah.

On January 23, 1993, Missy married Thomas Kent Benedict, in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Their first child, Simon Benedict, was born on August 2, 1994, in Salt Lake City. Tom and Missy also adopted a girl, Ari, who was born on May 15, 2009.

In Utah, Missy worked as an RN at the University of Utah Medical Center, and later at Intermountain Healthcare Primary Children’s Hospital. Her responsibilities there centered around helping children with life-threatening illnesses. She worked hard to do whatever she could to assist these young people, medically as well as lifting their spirits with her generosity and caring.

Missy was active in her callings with her LDS Church ward. She continued to love baseball, and even in her failing health was a fixture at Salt Lake Bees minor league baseball games, attending often with close friends and family. They enjoyed the fireworks shows at the baseball stadium. She was also a lifelong Los Angeles Angels Major League Baseball fan.

She stayed close to her siblings and parents, and traveled far distances to observe and honor achievements from her nieces and nephews. She grieved, with her siblings, the recent deaths of her mother and father.

Missy is survived by her husband, Tom, son Simon (Kory Benglan) Benedict, daughter Ari, and six siblings, Carla (Lanny) Smith, Jane (Stuart) King, Nancy (Bart) Bowen, Carol (Steve) Hastings, Doug (Kati) Gibson, and David (Sharon) Gibson. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral services will be at noon, on Saturday, May 22, at Oquirrh LDS Stake Building, 5208 W Cyclamen Way, West Jordan, Utah. There will be a viewing from 10:30 to 11:30 am at the church.  Those attending will be required to wear a mask. The burial will be at West Jordan Cemetery.