Mary Gibbs Delaney

In Remembrance of Mary Gibbs Delaney, October 14, 1947 to October 7, 2025

Mary was born in Palo Alto, CA to her parents Owen S. Gibbs and Frances J. Gibbs.

She grew up in Ladera, CA, a community in the hills near Palo Alto and graduated from Woodside High School in Woodside, CA. She went to Pitzer College in Claremont, CA and earned a bachelors degree. Mary went back to college in the extension program in Ukiah through Sacramento State University. She graduated in 1987, earning a MSW degree and LCSW license. She opened a private practice in Willits and Ukiah.

Mary was always an avid outdoors woman who lived in Colorado in the early ‘70s and joined an Outward Bound Master Class in outdoor eduction with teens. She later moved to Vermont living the bohemian lifestyle in the 70s with her partner, Jerry Traum. They moved to California in their VW bus and lived in Willits where their son, Michael Traum, was born.

Mary stayed in Willits when she and Jerry amicably split-up. Jerry was very active in Mike’s life. He later provided a home and four year sailing adventure to see the world,

Mary's father believed in the Co-op movement. He was one of the founders of the Palo Alto Co-op and started the Co-op insurance agency which he ran during Mary's youth. The Red Circle Truck Store was a food distribution co-op in Covelo in the late 70s. They needed an office manager so it was an easy step for Mary to help and fill the job in the early ’80s.

Mary and Seth Delaney met at the Red Circle Truck Store, but it was a decade before they were married in 1988 and lived in Ukiah. They parted ways in the late ‘90s, she moved once again to Willits, continued her practice and retired on May 15, 2024.

Mary was instrumental in forming the WWW, the Wild Willits Women, a backpacking group, in 1988. “Being out in the mountains, in nature, along mountain streams, amidst wildflowers, under the stars, swimming in snow melt lakes, hanging over edges of mountain tops, these were Mary's sweet spots, her places of sacred worship,” a quote from another long-time friend and founding member.

Mary had other passions. For decades he was a tenor in Emandal Chorale, sometimes being one of two tenors carrying the tune. She was part of the Mendocino Collage Masterworks Coral which performed with an orchestra and she sang, with great joy, in the Mendocino Music Festival performances. Her last chorus was with Comerada in Willits before she moved to Holy Spirit Care Home in Ukiah in September, 2024.

Mary explored many other groups. The Women’s Support Group stuck with her and three others, for 27 years.

Mary passed on to another adventure, comfortably and peacefully at Holy Spirit Care Home in Ukiah soon after a long-time friend sat with her.

“She passed in the early morning hours at the very peak of the Supermoon in her birth month. Good timing, Mary,” Wrote another dear friend.

Mary was the mother of Michael Traum (deceased) and Allan Katz, Dallas Texas.

She is survived by her brothers James Gibbs, Evanston, IL and David Gibbs, Cedar Park, TX, her sister Carol Tenter, Bolinas, CA, her son Allan Katz, Dallas, TX, Jerry Traum of Red Bluff, CA, the father of their deceased son, Michael Traum, and former husband, Seth Delaney, CalVet Home, Yountville, CA, as well as her dear friends and former clients.

At this time there are no memorials planned.