| Graduation Year | Class of 1965 |
| Date of Passing | Jun 08, 2014 |
| About | Francis Scott Gibson passed quietly into the peace of heaven,at his home. Scott was born March 16, 1945 in Broken Bow, the first born son of Harold Sr and Helen (Ellingson)Gibson. He was born what was termed a "blue baby" and was not expected to live but a few days. Somehow his humble farm-raised parents were able to not only keep him alive but to thrive. He took his first steps when he was 3 years old because of his weakened heart. On January l, 1951, he welcomed into the Gibson home the fourth of his five sisters before he was blessed with two brothers and another sister. In many of the early family photos Scott is holding and welcoming into the home the next new born child. The family lived in Cairo when Scott first began his school years. The Gibsons then moved to Grand Island, where he attended Westlawn, Wasmer Elementary and Walnut Junior High and graduated from Grand Island Senior High School with the class of 1965. When he was about 12 years old, he was the first juvenile in the state of Nebraska to undergo open heart surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center of Omaha. He remembers many years later staying there three months after surgery and the fine nursing care he was given. It was during Scotts time at Grand Island Senior High that he was mentored by Ken Marler Sr. at Marler Shoe Repair for half of the school day to learn shoe/boot repair. He learned it well, working at Marler's Repair until the business closed, whereupon he went to Old Town Boot Barn to continue his craft. This was not just a job to Scott, it was a craft that he took great pride in. His repairs had to done to his satisfaction and standards which he set up high. After the death of his father in 1978, he made his home with his mother so she would not be alone. He enjoyed her home-cooked meals, helping her in the yard and giving her a sense of security. This living arrangement worked until it was necessary for her to have special care in a nursing home. They took many vacations to Colorado visiting relatives. Scotts nieces and nephews as well as the great-nieces and great-nephews each have a special different memory of Uncle Scott. He so loved them all. In 2004, Scott retired after 41 years of shoe/boot repair. Once again, he was not expected to live long and certainly not another 10 years. He resided at Harvard Nursing Home, Harvard Assisted Living and Precious Times in Grand Island, where he was living at the time of his death. Since the death of their mother in 2009, the eight Gibson siblings have gathered once a month for fellowship and a time to honor the memory of family ties that were so important to their parents. Scott will be missed as they continue to gather. Those left to cherish his memory include 4 of his sisters and their husbands, Genny & Myron Perrell of St. Libory, Patricia & Dave Cooper Linda & Thomas Atkins Sr., Joyce Godder and Merna & Chi Avila, all of Grand Island; two brothers and sister-in-laws, Michael & Karen Gibson and Harold Jr & Joyce Gibson of Glenvil; 10 nieces and 6 nephews as well as 22 great nieces and 18 great nephews and two great great nephews along with the family pet Piso. Scott is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and two special great nieces. |
