NORRIDGEWOCK – Our husband, father and friend John Gibson passed away Oct. 4, 2011, after a long and courageous battle with prostate cancer. He was born Jan. 17, 1928, in Bronxville, N.Y., to John D. Gibson Jr. and Eleanor Otey (Anderson) Gibson.
He lived in Pelham Manor, N.Y., as a young man and enjoyed high school sports, even continuing to play in a football game insensibly after being kicked in the head. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1945 and was honorably discharged in 1946. He finished high school in Warren and went on to get a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maine, Orono. John worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farmers’ Home Administration for more than 33 years. He was the agricultural loan officer starting in Belfast, but spent most of his career in Skowhegan. He worked as a consultant to Woodard and Curran, an engineering firm in Portland, for a short time after retiring from the FHA, and was the treasurer of Redington Memorial Home, Skowhegan, for many years. John was the consummate family man, bequeathing to his children his value of hard work, integrity, love, compassion and the importance of treating others according to the Golden Rule. He made friends easily and cherished them greatly. He loved having coffee at My Cousin’s Place, going out to eat with the “Over-the-Hill Gang,” playing pool and poker with his buddies, going to a casino now and then, and donating to the economy. He was always the consummate gentleman. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, and he taught each of them how to play cribbage. He even let them win a game a time or two. He married the love of his life, Evangeline, and was completely devoted to her for their 63 years together. Even as he approached his maker’s day, his concern was all for her.
He is also survived by his daughter, Sharon Chadwick and husband, Gerald, of Warren; son, Jack Gibson and wife, Gail, of Norridgewock; son, Jeffrey B. Gibson of San Francisco; and daughter, Paige Green and husband, Tom, of Skowhegan. He leaves his grandchildren, Reid Gibson, Lisa (Gibson) Landry and husband, Todd, James York, Aubyn (Chadwick) Ehle and husband, Tim, Shelby Chadwick and friend, Nick Faustini, Ashley Green and friend, Tom Aubin, and Kyle Green and friend, Heather Holt. He has two great-grandchildren, Camden Green and Jason Aubin. He is also survived by his sister, Eleanor Mason of Springfield, Ore.; brother-in-law, Morgan Barbour and wife, Sarah, of Bellevue, Wash.; many nieces, nephews and cousins. The family thanks all of the many friends and family members for their love and support for Dad. He loved you all.
At the request of the family there will be no funeral or visitation hours. At a future date there will be a gathering to celebrate his life. Interment will be at the convenience of the family. It is with a deep sense of gratitude that we ask those of you wanting to make a donation in Dad’s name to do so to HealthReach Hospice, 10 Water St., Suite 307, Waterville, ME 04901. The care Dad received by these wonderful people was second to none. We could never have done it without them and are forever indebted. Arrangements under the care and direction of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 445 Waterville Road, Skowhegan.