Faye Elizabeth Gibson, 90
Faye Elizabeth Gibson, 90, passed away at Lake View Care Center on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008, in Bigfork. She was born April 19, 1918, in Proctor, to Adam and Oma (Davis) Learn. Faye was born into a family with four sisters, one brother, and an infant sibling who died of smallpox. Faye received her early education in Proctor, attending through the eighth grade.
Faye often spoke of hearing Indian drums in the woods, boating on both the Red and Black lakes while taking a break from pulling weeds, and working in the garden in Proctor. One American Indian chief, Black Crow, would ride around on his horse with a sword and scare the area children.
Faye had many odd jobs as a young lady around Proctor, doing household work, watching children, ironing clothes, tending animals, hauling water in a model A truck, and preparing fruit — often getting paid 50 cents a day. Her brother Richard often said he wished he could see the pile of apples that Faye had peeled in her lifetime. She also worked in Oregon in the shipyard for 75 cents an hour.
Faye met her future husband, Jacob E. Gibson, through a newspaper ad. Jake was looking for a caregiver for his three daughters, Francis, Lucille and Nancy, after the death of their mother. Faye answered the ad, and Jake and Faye were married Dec. 2, 1948, in Phoenix, as they were taking a load of Christmas trees down for sale. To this union Fredrick Adam Gibson was born in 1953. The family homesteaded at Foothills Road until Jake's passing in July 1979.
Jake, Faye and Fred enjoyed a trip of the Western 13 states in 1955.
She was very determined, strong-willed, and a spiritually inclined woman who absolutely loved rhubarb.
Faye was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jake E. Gibson; brother, Richard; sisters, Adaline, Evalina, Elsie, and an infant sibling; stepdaughters, Francis and Lucille; and a great-grandson, Mason Walsh.
She is survived by her son, Fred, and his wife, Sheri, of Kalispell; two stepdaughters, Alyssa and Nancy Sharp of Washington; a grandson, Aaron Gibson, and girlfriend, Kacey Scott, of Kalispell; granddaughter, Chen Walsh, and her husband, Rob, of Helena; two great-grandchildren, Dan and Clover of Helena; many wonderful cousins, relatives and friends; and one set of very special neighbors, Kent and Kathy Meyr.
A graveside service will be held for Faye at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25, at Glacier Memorial Gardens, with Pastor Tim Bartholomew of the Stillwater Free Lutheran Church officiating.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to all the wonderful caregivers at Lake View Care Center. She will be missed by all as she was a very dear woman — 'Love ya little, love ya big, love ya like a little pig.'
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Faye's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Faye's guest book.