Linda Nell Gibson
Linda Nell Coats Gibson, 72 daughter of Ansel Leycester and Blanche Beatrice Boyd Coats, was born May 9,1946 in Springfield, MO. She died at home on May 24, 2018.
Linda grew up on the Coats family farm west of Houston, where she was active in the Hightown 4-H Club. She graduated from Houston High School in 1964, where she was a member of the Future Homemakers of America and sang in the high school mixed chorus.
She married Kenneth Ray Gibson August 1, 1964. They moved to the family farm in 1966, where they continued living. Kenneth was in partnership with his father-in-law in the dairy business. After selling the dairy animals in 1994, Kenneth continued in the beef business, raising purebred Angus.
Linda went to work for Bob and Lane Davis at Texas County Printing in 1964. She worked for the Houston Newspapers, publishers of the Houston Herald for more than 44 years. Over the years at the newspaper, she sold advertising, did ad and page layout, bookkeeping and payroll, was the contact person with area schools and was an associate editor and proofreader.
After leaving the paper, she worked for Commnity Bank as they opened a branch in Houston. She also was the volunteer coordinator for the Houston Visitor Center. This year she received the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award for 2018.
Over the years, music ws an important part of her life. She sangand played the piano at churches in the Texas County Baptist Association where her husband pastored: Union, Central, Eunice, ElkCreek, Hickory Ridge, Rock Springs and Northside Baptist churches and for numerous weddings and funerals for over fifty years. She was a part ofthe Texas County Community Singers, serving the group as contact secretary.
For several years, she wasa counselor and directorat Simmons Baptist Camp operated by Texas County Baptist Association.
After retirement, she worked with Kenneth with his commercial Angus cow/calf herd. She was the newborn calf checker during calving season. She also raked hay and hauled and stacked the big round bales from the field. During the winter, she helped with the hay feeding.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Surviving are her husband; two sisters, Judy Annette Grider of Bolivar and Helen Mae Allen of Springfield ; four nieces and a nephew