Janet Gibson

Services for Vivian Janet Gibson, 83, of Ada, are 10:00 a.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church, Revs. Jerry Wells, Harold Ware and John Haynes will officiate. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at Criswell Funeral Home.

Mrs. Gibson passed away Friday, July 7, 2017 at an Oklahoma City hospital. She was born February 3, 1934 in Tishomingo to Ralph James and Cecil H. Dale Taylor. When she was in the 7 ^th grade, she and her family moved to Ada where she graduated from Latta High School as Valedictorian. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics in 3 years.

She married Billy R. Gibson May 28, 1954. They met at the Pontotoc County Fair. In 1954 they moved to Stillwater where Bill finished his last year majoring in Agriculture. Since Bill took ROTC, he had a commitment to serve four years. That commitment extended to 21 years in the Air Force with him attaining the rank of Lt. Colonel.

During those 21 years they actually lived at these places: San Antonio, TX twice; Lubbock, TX; West Palm Beach, FL; Montgomery, AL, twice; Lincoln, NE; Merced, CA; Moultrie, GA; Goldsboro, NC; Columbus, OH; and Washington, D. C. His last year in the Air Force, Janet moved to Ada while he was stationed at Tinker traveling across the nation working on the Air Force One presidential plane.

During those years, Janet worked at local Baptist Churches in their Music Ministry (playing the piano, organ, singing in the choir or working with children's choirs). When Bill went to Vietnam in 1968-69, Janet moved to Ada where she earned a Master of Teaching with a major in Business Education.

In 1955 when Bill retired, Janet went to work for the Oklahoma Cooperative Service as a Home Economist working three years in Coal County and 17 years in Pontotoc County. She was very active in Home Economics Associations. Each year she was allowed to attend a national meeting of one of the three groups. She traveled all over the U. S. and one trip to Mexico City to meet with their national extension director.

Janet has been active in the Farm Bureau Women's committee in Pontotoc County, active at the First Baptist Church in Ada, a member of the Retired Educators, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and she was elected November 13, 2015 and served as District Director for Farm Bureau Women's Committee.

Survivors include her husband, Bill, of the home; a son, Gary E. Gibson of Oklahoma City; a daughter, Jan M. Long and her husband Lonnie of Ada; her grandchildren, Rev. Aaron Long and wife Jannason, Aleina Overman and husband, Rev. Walter Overman, Janessa Lawrence and husband, Rev. Josh Lawrence, and Austin W. Long; her great-grandchildren, Andrew, Wyatt, Audrey and Arabella Long; Hayley, Hadassah, Calvin and Malcolm Overman; and Kylee Lawrence; and her brother, Darel Taylor and his sons, Patrick and Chris.

Bearers will be Terry Cluck, Aaron Long, Austin Long, Walter Overman, Andrew Long, Vernon Robinson and Verdo Hooker. Honorary bearers will be Turk Barrett, George Welch and Roy Hall.