Kelly Gibbs (1982 - February 25, 1991) was a young girl who was the daughter of former Marine-turned-NIS/NCIS Special Agent, Leroy Jethro Gibbs and civilian Shannon Gibbs.
In addition, Kelly was also the childhood best friend of Maddie Tyler while her paternal grandparents were Jackson Gibbs, Ann Gibbs, and her maternal grandparents were Joann Fielding and Mac Fielding.
Tragically, on February 25, 1991, Kelly died in a car accident alongside her mother.
Biography
Pre-Series
Born sometime in 1982 (as seen on her gravestone when her father visits her and her mother’s grave in Date With Destiny), Kelly was the daughter of Marine Gunnery Sergeant Leroy Jethro Gibbs and his first wife, Shannon Gibbs.
Not much was revealed about her life except for the fact that she was raised in the D.C. area and regularly did a lot of activities with her parents including horseback riding.
In 1991, her father was fighting in Desert Storm in Kuwait with Shannon and Kelly living in Oceanside.
One day, though, Shannon witnessed a Marine being shot dead with Pedro Hernandez, a man originally from Mexico and who was a drug dealer working out of Camp Pendle being identified as the man responsible for the death.
Shannon agreed to testify against Hernandez with an NIS agent, Kurt Mitchell being assigned to guard the two.
Unfortunately, one day while they were out, Hernandez struck, shooting Mitchell in the head, killing him with the resulting car crash killing both Shannon and Kelly instantly.
NCIS Season 3
NCIS Season 4
NCIS Season 5
NCIS Season 9
NCIS Season 13
Personality
Kelly had quite a bubbly personality. She had a liking for the Strawberry Shortcake series, liked to draw, and played the piano. She also had a particular fondness for horses, earning her the nickname Sergeant Reckless as a young girl.
The Time Capsule
Proud of her father, she buried a time capsule in her backyard for Jethro Gibbs with several important objects to her in it.
There was a hand drawing her and Maddie Tyler made together in Kindergarten, a small wooden horse that she’s painted herself, homemade friendship bracelets she and Maddie Tyler made, a fortune teller, and two polly pocket toys she was fond of. There was also a photo taken of Kelly and Maddie out on the porch during one summer, and a best buddies drawing.
Kelly had also drawn a family portrait. A five-year-old Kelly was middle, holding the hands of her parents on either side. Gibbs was dressed in his cammies.
There was also a yellow ribbon that had been handed out at Kelly’s school in an effort to show support to those kids who’s parents were being deployed - like Gibbs - to fight in Desert Storm. Moreover, there was also the set of child-sized dog tags labelled “Kelly” and “Daddy” that she’d been given by her father when she was four years old. Kelly had rarely taken them off before putting them in the time capsule.
Lastly, there was a handwritten note.
'Dear Daddy,'
I love you so much. I buried this so we could open it together when I get older. I miss you.''
Love, Kelly ❤️’
Gibbs never opened the time capsule instead deciding to rebury it, however; the contents were shared on the website.
Physical Appearance
Kelly was a young girl of average height with red or reddish-brown hair. She had blue eyes like both of her parents.