KAILUA — Lucille Gibson, known for her tireless effort in trying to preserve the Boettcher Estate at Kalama Beach Park, has died.

Gibson, 83, was also one of the founding members of the Kailua Historical Society and a charter member of the Historic Hawai'i Foundation.

She and Ted Gibson, her husband of 56 years, moved to Hawai'i in 1974 after spending many winter vacations in the Islands visiting her mother.

Once here Lucille Gibson joined the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle where she became involved in 1979 in preserving the Boettcher Estate, which was designed by renowned architect Vladimir Ossipoff for Charles and Mae Boettcher of Denver. The 1936 structure is listed on the State Register of Historic Places. She served on the board for Boettcher Estate until two weeks before her death from cancer on Monday.

"She was the consummate lady of her generation," said Muriel Seto, who worked with Gibson gathering oral history on the Boettcher Estate. "No matter how passionate she was in her endeavor she always had that wonderful smile and genteel demeanor. She accomplished amazing things, and I think in large part, because of her gentility."

At a time when the city had little money to preserve the Boettcher Estate, Gibson enlisted the help of hundreds through various projects using small grants and volunteer labor, said Mary King, former chairman for the Kalama Beach Park Advisory Council.

"Her dedication so impressed Mae Boettcher that she donated $25,000 to help repair the house," King said.

Ted Gibson said his wife was outgoing and worked hard for others. "It was always in the theme of what can we do for someone else," he said.

Gibson was always more concerned about others than herself, even in her final days, said Peggy Froome, a longtime friend. She was always optimistic and never admitted there was anything wrong with her, Froome said.

"I don't think I ever heard her say 'I can't do it' until she became very ill," she said.

Four years ago Gibson along with Joanne Flannery and Froome established the Kailua Historical Society to collect, preserve, store and share historical material about the Kailua ahupua'a.

Ever a cheerleader for Kailua, Gibson wanted people to remember what the town was like and how it developed, Flannery said.

"She always had the wisest suggestion," Flannery said. "She had such a good head on figuring how best things could get done, but she was always in touch with other people's feelings."

Gibson was recently honored at the Kailua Historical Society for her countless hours of volunteer service to Kailua, said Molly Mosher-Cates, past president of the society.

"We were lucky to have her as a part of our community and were honored to have her serve on the board," Mosher-Cates said. "Lucille was a woman of humble elegance."

Lucille Gibson was born May 21, 1922, in Pasadena, Calif. Before coming to Hawai'i she worked a variety of jobs, including for Western Airlines, Ann Arbor Women's City Club in Michigan and as a hostess for Villa Park Welcome Wagon in Illinois.

Services are 4 p.m. Wednesday at Kailua Beach Park, across the street from Buzz's Original Steak House.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.