Mabel Rebecca (Cherry) Gibson was born on August 15, 1922 to the late Ollie (Gilliam) Dulaney and Harvey Cherry in Bells, Texas. She was called home by our Good Shepherd at 4am on Good Friday, April 15, 2022, four months shy of her 100th birthday. When asked on her 97th birthday if she was excited about the prospect of becoming the family's first centenarian, she replied, "oh my, I don't want to be that old!" Apparently, the Lord was listening.

Mrs. Gibson maintained all of her faculties until she suffered a stroke in March. She kept her mind sharp by working cross word puzzles, writing thoughtful letters to her family and friends, and reading stacks of romance novels, especially those by Jackie Collins. She loved to listen to Willie Nelson and Conway Twitty, but neither could hold a candle to the crush she had on Bob Barker.

The striking blue-eyed beauty never had a hair out of place or saw a piece of costume jewelry she didn't like. She cherished her collection of musical horse carousels which conjured childhood memories of eating cotton candy at the county fair and counting her change to purchase a ticket to ride on the back of a gallant white steed hoping for a chance to grab the brass ring. Her favorite collection were all the cards, photos, and letters she received from her family and friends; some date back to the 1950s.

Mrs. Gibson was raised, along with her siblings, Charles, Betty, and Angileah, by her mother and beloved stepfather, Odo Dulaney, on a dairy farm they operated in Bells. She became a member of the Virginia Point United Methodist Church on August 8, 1938, and graduated from Bells High School the same year. She married Charles Youree Gibson (descendant of Andy Youree) in 1941. The couple had three sons: Wayne, Mike, and Kenneth.

She was preceded in death by her mother and stepfather, Ollie (Gilliam) Dulaney and Odo Dulaney, her father, Harvey Cherry; her beloved siblings: Charles Cherry, Betty Kaiser, and Angileah Coley; husband, Charles Youree Gibson; and her eldest son, Charles "Wayne" Gibson.

She leaves behind two sons: James Michael Gibson and Kenneth Dale Gibson; grandchildren: Michael Gibson, Barbara Gibson, Rebecca James, Jake Gibson, and Heather Gibson; great-grandchildren: Katy Gibson, Jasmine James, Ashley, Victoria, Jennifer, and Ayla Gibson; numerous nieces and nephews; and life long friend and cousin by marriage, Frances Gilliam.

A graveside service will be held at the Virginia Point United Methodist Church in Bells, Texas, on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at 12pm, officiated by her nephew, Rick Kaiser. Music will be led by Rebecca James who will sing Amazing Grace accompanied by her daughter, Jasmine, on guitar.

In lieu of flowers or as a memorial, donations for ongoing cemetery care can be made anytime to Virginia Point UMC Cemetery Fund in Bells, Texas: http://www.virginiapointumc.com/linksdirections.html