On November 21, 1977 Michelle made her grand entrance into this world. It was the start of her making many big splashes as she weighed in at 9 pounds 15 ounces.
With her Dad working with the Fish & Wildlife, she was raised on a number of different fish hatcheries around the northern part of Oregon. She came home from the hospital to Knappa, Oregon.
Then she moved to Nehalem, Oregon before she was one year old. This move brought along 3 new brothers. Matt came first, then Derek with Craig coming last. Was she overwhelmed by so many brothers? No way, she was the “Alpha Dog” of the group. The ruler of the roost.
She often mentioned how fun it was when they would release the small fish and after most of them were out of the pond and they were only a few inches of water left in the pond, they would let the kids go in to the pond in their rain boots. They would have a great time chasing the little ones who were left out.
Michelle love the trips to the Grandparents beach house. When she was in kindergarten at Canon Beach Grade School she had collected a sand dollar for each of the children in her class. I can imagine it would have impressed the kids in Eastern Oregon more than it did those who lived at the beach, but she was still so excited to share her find.
Irrigon, Oregon was the next move and she started 1st grade there. While living in Irrigon she learned to knee board and loved the Columbia River which was steps away from our front door. She was baptized at the Irrigon Assembly of God church. She also tried her luck with playing the saxophone. That only lasted one year (we were all happy about that).
Next came the move to Bonneville, Oregon. There the “Alpha Dog” ruled. The bully of the neighborhood liked to push almost everyone around but was scared of her – SHE LOVED IT.
Seventh grade brought her to Enterprise, Oregon. During her stay there she started to be a real “Social Butterfly”. She was involved in the church youth group and in 9th grade started into volleyball. She got her first real job as a waitress and learned to drive. With her 15th birthday in November it was only 3 days after getting her permit she was learning to drive on ice and snow.
Her volleyball career continued as she moved to Seaside, Oregon her sophomore year in high school. She also expanded in to track and enjoyed running for quite some time. Her junior year she got a job at the Seaside Aquarium which she absolutely loved.
She graduated from Seaside High School in 1996. But it was also a time of big change. For the first time the Gribble family moved and left one behind. Since she had a job and was starting college in the fall she stayed behind with a friend’s family.
The September of 1996, with Mom and Dad doing the first of which would be many moving services she started school at Western Oregon University where she roomed with her best friend Katie.
After a couple years she took a year off to make a little money and buy a car. Then back she went to college graduating in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in communication.
But she was really not happy with that and surprised us all with the announcement she wanted to go in to hair styling.
So she headed off to school again and waitressed at Applebees. When she graduated there she started working at Harvey’s Salon in Salem. But all she talked about was getting a job at Roberts of Portland. She finally got the call she had waited for and went to work at Roberts. She loved it there and even though she was not feeling well was at work the day before her death.
Michelle volunteered her hair styling service to those who needed a leg up getting a job by doing the hair for those in “Dress for Success”. She was also a “Big Sister” and kept in touch with her “Little Sister” even after she and her family had moved to Salem.
Her high school track skills turned into a love of running. She ran on the Hood to Coast Relay Race in both 2007 and 2008. The team included her cousin, Heather, and brother, Matt. She liked to make sure everyone knew she had a posted a better time than Matt. She never mentioned it was only a second or two or that he ran the longer /harder legs of the race. A better time was a better time.
She always looked forward to her trips with friends. And with us over on the East side of the state was our family representative at many holiday dinners.
She will be remembered by friends and her family- her parents Mike and Kathy. Her brothers and their wives – Matt and Amanda, Derek, Craig and Christy. Her nephew, Samuel and soon be new Gribble baby will grow to know her through the many stories they will hear. She will be missed by her grandparents, Don & Gwen Gribble and Lois Bailey, as well as her many Aunts, Uncles and cousins.
Though she was in our lives just a short amount of time she made very lasting memories. She was strong, independent, a loyal friend, and loving daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, niece, and cousin. She will truly be missed.