- James "Jim" Lee Gibson, 94, of Olney was promoted to glory on Monday, October 5, 2026. Jim, born on March 19, 1932, in Noble, was the 2nd eldest of John Brewer and Eva (Fulk) Gibson. He graduated from West Richland High School in 1951 and married Eloise Anne Evans on December 21, 1953.
He is survived by his children: Sherry (Fredi) Berger, LeAnn Gibson, and Michelle (Rick) Stevens; eight grandchildren: Amy Fulk, Jeremy (Holly) Berger, Grant Stevens, Elle Stevens, Olivia Stevens, Mia Stevens, Sophia Stevens, and Riley Stevens; five great grandchildren: Tanner Fulk, Cody Fulk, Logan Berger, Jordan Berger, and Natalie Berger; brother, Dave Gibson; sister, Ruth Travous and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and brothers John, Joe, Bert, Kell, and Frank.
Jim was extremely proud of his service to his country having enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951. He was stationed at Geiger Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington, as well as in Morocco.
Jim was quite the entrepreneur, beginning his work in 1956 with Cirgas, which was bought by Petrolane, where he was the local manager until establishing Gibson Thermogas in Clay City in 1975. In addition, Jim started a propane bottling plant, a trucking company, a laundromat, and the Noble Canteen, an ice cream and sandwich shop.
He served 15 years on the West Richland High School board, including time as board president and also served on the Richland County Housing Authority Board. Additionally, he was a member of North Freedom Baptist Church in Noble where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher for several years. He was also a lifetime member of the VFW and American Legion.
Anyone who knew Jim could attest to his generosity. He once loaned his truck to a stranger passing through on Highway 50, literally giving him the keys so he could get on his way to St. Louis. He also let a stranger who was passing through soak his feet on his front porch. Jim was known to provide free service for stoves, furnaces, and air conditioners at all hours even after he retired from the propane business. He loved to work on all variety of things, which he started at age 13 when he had to figure out how to get the tractor out in the field running when his dad wasn't around to help him. He continued taking engines apart and rebuilding them into his nineties. That was a handy skill to have due to his vast collection of old cars and tractors. If you knew Jim, you know he also loved bluegrass music, and if you were lucky, you might have even spotted him riding his bicycle around Olney well into his eighties.
Visitation will be held for friends and family from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Friday, October 9, 2026 at Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home in Olney.
The funeral will be held for Jim at 3:00 PM on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at the funeral home.
Interment will follow at Greenhill Cemetery in rural Noble, with Full Military Rites to be performed at graveside.
Memorials can be made to Carmi Children's Home or Freedom Cemetery.
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1932 - 2026 (94 years)
[1] 
English
