The daughter of Jonathan L. and Bertha Wehausen Hockett, Myrtle was born October 17, 1912, in Grinnell where she was raised and graduated from Grinnell High School in 1931. After high school she was employed for several years at the DeLong Glove Factory. She was married to Lloyd D. Gilbert on November 29, 1933, in Grinnell. The couple continued to make their home in Grinnell and she was employed at Grinnell General Hospital and later at the office of Dr. John DeMeulenaere. She retired in 1981. She was a life-long member of the Grinnell First Presbyterian Church where she was baptized and confirmed, a member of the Rebekah Lodge, Camp Fire Council, Davis Elementary PTA, and M.A.C. Chorus of the Grinnell Senior Center. Myrtle was very family oriented. She held a great love for her family and was very fond of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was full of life. She enjoyed arts and crafts, knitting, crocheting, and making afghans and hand crafted Christmas ornaments for members of her family. She enjoyed family vacations, theme parks, playing games, flower gardening and canning her own vegetable produce. One of her strongest attributes was being a good listener and making herself available when her time was needed. Survivors include three daughters and their spouses, Lois and Mike Reid of Phoenix, Arizona, Pat and Gary Jolley of Mansfield, Texas, and Mary and Ron Adams of Grinnell, nine grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren. Myrtle died December 27, 2005, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lloyd, one daughter, Virginia Gilbert, two brothers, Howard and Norman Hockett, and two sisters, Lenora Ohland and Bernice Sickenger.