Roberta McKibbin

Roberta Gail Fruehauf Evans Johnson McKibbin was born March 27, 1942 in Eastlake, Ohio to Enne Ravnikar, a creative, poised mother, and Richard Fruehauf, a sailor and mechanical minded father. She grew up the tiny house on Rokeby Road built after WWII and started her first ÒbusinessÓ with the neighborhood children while taking in every doll and animal possible including Baby Kitty and Henny Penny , Rooster Booster and Chicken Lickin. After her beloved elementary school, she graduated from Eastlake North High in 1960 where she played clarinet, learned Spanish and was in the Friendship ClubÉ.a club she continued her entire life starting with Linda, Winnie and Joyce. After one year of studying education at the Ohio State University, she came home to marry Donald Evans in 1963, have Renee in 1964 and Brent in 1966 in Euclid, Ohio. When divorced, she continued her sales career started in her fatherÕs TV and appliance store by selling Avon ever so successfully. From there she went on to selling dental equipment and supplies, marrying and adding to Howard JohnsonÕs family, then moving on to medical sales after their divorce, again being the top salesperson in each endeavor. She started Quintex medical supplies in the basement of her home, borrowing ReneeÕs car from college and using BrentÕs typewriter while he was in high school. She grew her business out of the house moving to two locations until 1998, ever increasing her network and relationships. As life would have it, the third time was the charm and she married the love of her life, Jack McKibbin in 1994. They lived the dream at Chautauqua where Roberta was the welcoming ambassador and hostess extraordinaire with never an occasion missed for a spectacular party and a chance to bring new friends into her vast circle. The driving force of her life was family, and she poured her life into us including sweet times with Ògood as goldÓ grandsons Blake, Declan and Ian and BrentÕs wife, Korin. It was her constant thought to teach them and give to them. She valued the same for JackÕs children Ð Mary Jane deceased, John, Margaret, Stanton, Suzanne, Katedeceased, Kelly, and Jamie along with their spouses and children. All told, Jack and Roberta shared 16 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and countless Òadopted childrenÓ throughout their livesby giving to so many others, including students of all ages. If you knew her, you knew of her kitties, her flowers, her gifts, her photographs, the playing of games, the consummate decorating for the holidays, constant organizing, penchant for Jazz and all music including, for reasons beyond our understanding, Rod Stewart.She was the Queen of Clean, teaching the latest thing she learned to everyone she met.She loved to travel, wishing she could have done more and documented everything with a card. She turned shopping to an art form and never missed a bargain or coupon. She loved all art especially that of Susan Branch, Alexandra Stoddard&Linnea. And then there were the parties Ð dinner on the deck, tea in the potting shed, special birthday creations and the mega Chautauqua house tour. Always a celebration. Through it all, Jack was there with undying support. Roberta was a woman of conviction and complexity but most of all one who cared for others. She was creative, demanded excellence and never gave up, a friend to all forever with hope and faith eternal.The fight of her earthly life ended November 14, 2011, at the Cleveland Clinic but cancer didnÕt win. Her spirit is too strong for that. McKIBBIN ROBERTA J. nee Fruehauf, 69, devoted wife of John "Jack" M.; loving mother of Renee Evans of Shaker Heights and Brent Evans Korin of Novelty; dearest grandmother of Blake Evans, Declan & Ian Evans. She died peacefully at the Cleveland Clinic on November 14 after an all out fight against cancer and was preceded to Glory by her mother and father, Enne Ravnikar and Richard Fruehauf. A friend of so very many, Roberta grew up in Eastlake, Ohio, lived and worked in Euclid, Ohio and created her dream home in Chautauqua, New York. Her passions were her family, caring for others, flowers, selling most anything, photographs and throwing a fabulous party. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in her name to the Chautauqua Foundation -P.O. Box 28, Chautauqua, N.Y. 14722 to benefit Student Scholarships and the Bird, Tree & Garden Club. Family and friends are asked to gather at University Circle United Methodist Church, 1919 East 107th Street Cleveland, OH 44106 for VISITATION SATURDAY 12:00-2:00 PM with SERVICES AT THE CHURCH at 2:00 PM. Interment Services will be held in Chautauqua Cemetery, Chautauqua, NY at 11am on Monday, November 21.


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