Johnnie "John" LaMar Gibbs

John Gibbs , age 87, passed away September 3, 2020. Graveside Services will be held Saturday September 5, 2020, 3:00PM at the Tennessee Cemetery in Shelby County, Texas, with Bro. Wade Rector & LaMar Hall officiating.

Johnnie LaMar “John” Gibbs, was born May 6, 1933 in Gary, Texas, to the marriage of George & Lillie (Taylor) Gibbs. Like most of the boys of his generation, education was from the school of hard knocks. Quitting school at an early age, he helped his Daddy and brothers with whatever job they could find to feed their big family, from pulp wood to picking cotton, to carpenter work, to ditch digging, to truck farming crops. As soon as he was old enough, he went to Houston and found work.

One job he worked on was building the Hobby Airport. In December of 1952 he married a pretty girl with dark curls, named Ruby. They shared almost 60 years together, & raised 3 daughters and 2 sons.

John was a mechanic by trade, working at the Chevrolet Dealership for many years. He traveled to Houston on weekends for mechanics school. In the mid 60’s, he built his own garage at home.

Ruby and the kids helped him make a living there for many years, along with raising cows, truck farming, and selling cars. Life was hard sometimes, but they raised their kids to be hard working, caring and respectful adults, with all 5 of them graduating high school. That was a first generation for that in both of their families.

In his spare time, you could find John picking his guitar, that was always plugged into the amp. He was always glad when everybody gathered for a birthday or holidays, because there was always plenty there to sing. The family played and sang many years at local jamborees, revivals, funerals, or parties. After the kids grew up and started their own lives, John & Ruby spent many years playing & singing at Highway Tabernacle and at Nursing Homes with Carole, Jeannie, Scotty, Burk, and Brooksie, just to name a few. Brooksie recently dubbed him the “best guitar picker in the universe.”

He was a member of the Tennessee Presbyterian church, but he last attended Timpson Missionary Baptist Church. He didn’t feel like his Savior was confined to one church or building. Even in pain, the last understandable words he said were, “Thank You Sweet Jesus”.

When the Grand and Great Grand Kids started coming along, each one was special to him. I’m sure each one of them could share a “Papaw Story “.

After Ruby died, John was very alone. Rose was a friend from Church, and they spent several years together, until his health failed.

John Gibbs is survived by his wife of 6 years, Rosalie Cook Gibbs; Children-Leta”Teny” & Ken Rector, Debra “Deb” & James “Buddy” Hall, Peggy Sue Eddins, Johnnie & Mary Gibbs, Duane & Jean Gibbs; Grandchildren-Wade & Heather Rector, LaMar & Shayna Hall, Angela Cook, Matthew & Sarah Hall, Kenneth & Holly Traylor, David Eddins 14 Great Grand Children. Sister-Sallie Coleman, and a host of family and friends.

Preceded in death by Wife-Ruby Wells Gibbs, Parents- George & Lillie Gibbs, Son-in-law-Jeff Eddins, Granddaughter-Shelby Rector, Grandson-Dusty Eddins, Great Grandchildren-Tommy Hall, and Baby Rector Sister-Peggy Adams, Brothers-George, Kenneth, Billy Joe, Gene, & Larry.

To view graveside service please visit link below:

https://youtu.be/dgav2kf20cY