Our beloved Gigi's decade long struggle with Alzheimer's ended at home in Klamath Falls, Oregon on December 21, 2024. Born Georgia Ann Grover May 20, 1944 in Midland, Michigan she spent her childhood years as a farm girl in the small town of Coleman, Michigan, graduating with honors from Coleman H.S. in 1962. In 1964 she interrupted her pursuit of a college degree at Northern Michigan University to answer the call to become a Peace Corps Volunteer in India; the seminal event of Gigi's life which launched her bright light into the world.
Gigi was a Renaissance Woman as reflected by her varied interests and accomplishments:
. Talented multi-media artist, earning a Fine Arts B.A. in 1978 from the U. of Colorado, Boulder. Her award winning bronze sculptures were featured in many Colorado shows. From 1998-2002 while employed by the Northern Mariana Islands Museum on Saipan she branched out more into watercolors and drawings that she exhibited at the annual Flame Tree Arts Festival and other island events and locations.
. Excelled at drawing delightful cartoons often featuring dogs, frogs, and other critters engaged in human like activities.
. Gifted writer and poet. The Path a well-received recollection of Peace Corps days in India is still to be found online. Correspondent for the Redstone Review, Lyons, Colorado, ca. 2000.
. Loved music ranging from Country and Western to Classical. She played the trombone and flute in H.S. band and in the 1970s - 80s for friends and in community bands when she lived in Boulder and Jamestown, Colorado. Gigi also enjoyed playing the piano. On Saipan she impressed the islanders with her ability to blow the conch shell loud and clear!
. Had an abiding interest in indigenous peoples and archaeology. Beginning with India she literally traveled the world, immersing herself in local cultures and being sure to visit such archaeological treasures as Machu Picchu, Peru, and nearly all of the ruins in Mexico.
In 1988 Gigi began to pursue a career in cultural resources management and archaeology starting with work as a Cultural Resources Intern on the San Juan National Forest, Colorado, followed by similar positions with the Bureau of Land Management, Colorado, and the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office.
In 1989 Gigi was accepted as an Anthropology graduate student at the U. of Wyoming, Laramie, and attended the U. of Wyoming's archaeology field school in 1990. Having moved to Flagstaff, Arizona she completed graduate studies at Northern Arizona University and was awarded an Anthropology/Archaeology MA Degree in 1995, and accredited as a Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA).
1996 - 1998 Gigi was employed by the National Park Service as the Field Archaeologist/ Assistant Curator for Museum Collections at Pecos National Monument, New Mexico.
1998 - 2002 Served along with husband Robert as Curator of Collections and briefly as Director of the Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) Museum of History & Culture on Saipan. Where she conducted research into and put together numerous exhibits, projects, and publications highlighting Northern Marianas history and cultures.
Upon returning to the Continental USA in 2002 Gigi continued on as a Research Associate of the NMI Museum and held similar appointments with the Nevada State Museum, Carson City, and The Frison Institute of Archaeology & Anthropology at the U. of Wyoming, Laramie.
Gigi's enormous talents and achievements we admired and took pride in. But it is the loss of her electric personality, impish humor, companionship, love, that hurts the most.
She is survived by husband Robert of Klamath Falls, son Toby Maloney, New York City, sisters Dixie Lee Powlesland, Garden City, Idaho, and Val Fike and brother-in-law Quinter Fike, Jamestown, Colorado, brother George Valdo Grover Jr., New Lothrop, Michigan, nephew Marshal Fike, Jamestown, Colorado, niece Kathy Fike-Jorgenson, Divide, Colorado. And her many wonderful friends world-wide.
In Gigi's honor donations are encouraged to be made online to the Alzheimer's Association to support much needed research and/or to continue her life-long interest in the past of humans in the Americas and beyond, the Frison Institute of Archaeology & Anthropology at the U. of Wyoming, Laramie.
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