Claire S. Gibson of Oak Bluffs died Tuesday, Jan. 27, in the company of family members at the JML Care Center in Falmouth. She was 85.

Born Claire Shirley Darling on July 9, 1929, at the cottage hospital in Oak Bluffs, her parents were William Leslie Darling and Dorothy Laura House.

She graduated from the Oak Bluffs grammar school and North Quincy High School. Claire subsequently worked as a secretary in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer distribution office in Boston, and later in the office of Brown & Sharpe in Providence, R.I.

Claire had a passion for dance. In early childhood she dreamed of becoming a ballerina, and as a beautiful and lithe young woman, found eager partners at the Tivoli dance hall in Oak Bluffs, and later, at Boston-area venues like Wonderland and the Totem Pole.

She was married three times. Her first two marriages, to Stanley Wilson and William Whitehead, respectively, ended in divorce. She found her true soulmate and life partner, Frank G. (Butch) Gibson Jr. in 1964. All predeceased her.

A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Claire loved card games, reading, knitting and word puzzles. When Butch and the children became involved in scouting, she did too, serving as a Cub Scout, Brownie and Girl Scout leader.

After the children were grown, Claire and Butch became devoted RV travelers, touring large swaths of the country with a 24-foot trailer in tow. When not on the road, Claire spent some of the happiest times of her life with her husband, children and grandchildren at Maple Park Campground in Wareham.

In addition to her husband, Claire was predeceased by her brother, Hubert Darling. She is survived by her children, David Wilson and his wife Susan, and Bertha Blake and her husband Danny, both of Oak Bluffs; stepson Frank G, Gibson 3rd and stepdaughter Brenda Kennedy; grandchildren Michael, Daniel and Aaron Blake, Elizabeth (Wilson) Deren, Alison Wilson, and Heather Gibson, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Visitation hours are on Saturday, Feb. 14, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason funeral home on State Road in Oak Bluffs. A brief service will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to JML Care Center, 184 Ter Huen Drive, Falmouth, MA 02540. Arrangements are under the care of Chapman, Cole & Gleason funeral home.