Here are the stories of the SLO County residents who have died from coronavirus
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Remembering those lost to COVID-19
The Tribune is working to share the stories of those lost to the coronavirus pandemic in San Luis Obispo County.
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No visitors, no funerals: Families of 3 SLO County COVID-19 victims share their stories
Here are the stories of the SLO County residents who have died from coronavirus
Remembering those lost to COVID-19: Karla Gibson was a SLO Realtor and a ‘shining star’
Remembering those lost to COVID-19: Bob Maxwell left his mark across Atascadero
Remembering those lost to COVID-19: Margery McGoff was dedicated Atascadero grandmother
Since the coronavirus pandemic reached San Luis Obispo County in March, 27 local people have died from COVID-19.
These people have sometimes been referred to as statistics, with only a number denoting their place in the tally of San Luis Obispo County residents lost in the midst of a worldwide health crisis.
The Tribune is attempting to put names and faces to those we have lost.
Below is a list of the confirmed residents who have died due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Rather than focusing solely upon their deaths, The Tribune is looking to tell the stories of their lives. Each person, whose identity has been confirmed by family or loved ones, has a special obituary detailing their time in San Luis Obispo County. In these obituaries, you’ll find information on where they grew up, their hobbies, their jobs and more.
If your loved one died due to the coronavirus in San Luis Obispo County, and you wish to speak to The Tribune about your family member or friend, you can do so here.
This list will be updated as more people step forward to share the stories of those who have passed.
Karla Gibson
Age: 95
City: San Luis Obispo
Karla Pomeroy Gibson was “a real feel-good story,” according to her daughter Rayna Bernard.
Born on a 100-acre farm in Magic Valley, Idaho, in 1925, the pretty and stylish Gibson led a life that could easily be described as idyllic.
“She always would end (conversations) with ‘Give yourself a Karla hug,’ ” Bernard said. “She always wanted to make sure that people felt loved. Such a theme to her life: spreading joy and making sure people knew how much they mattered.”
Gibson died at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo on June 30, from complications related to coronavirus. She was 95 years old — just five years short of the 100 she always told people she planned to reach.
To read more about Gibson and her life, view her full story here.
Robert “Bob” Maxwell
Age: 89
City: Atascadero
If you take a stroll through Atascadero, there’s a good chance you’re looking at the handiwork of Robert Maxwell.
Known as “Bob” to most — or “Bulldog” to his Kiwanis friends for his tenacious dedication to seeing through a project — Maxwell was a man dedicated to bettering his community any way he could.
“Everyone knew Dad,” his daughter, Becky Maxwell, told The Tribune. “They asked who my parents were — they wouldn’t know mom, but they knew my dad.”
Maxwell, who died due to coronavirus on July 27 at age 89, was a dedicated member of the Atascadero Kiwanis club and the force behind numerous beautification projects across Atascadero.
To read more about Maxwell and his life, view his full story here.
Margery McGoff
Age: 88
City: Atascadero
When asked to describe their mother, the first words out of Margery McGoff’s daughters’ mouths were “a force to be reckoned with.”
On July 24, McGoff died at the age of 88 from complications related to coronavirus, leaving behind two daughters and two sons, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
That big extended family was extremely important to McGoff during her life, her daughters said, noting that she was particularly involved with the lives of her grandchildren in Atascadero.
“I don’t think she ever missed a school play or the Halloween carnival,” daughter Melinda Luce said. “I don’t think she ever missed anything to do with the four grandkids who lived here.”
To read more about McGoff and her life, view her full story here.
This story was originally published September 18, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
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