Betty Gibson

Betty Gibson, 81, died Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023 at the Memorial Hospital of Converse County in Douglas surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Kansas City, on Monday, June 1, 1942, the daughter of Fay Junior and Bessie Viola (Wheeler) Herbst. She grew up on a farm in El Dorado Springs where she spent her days milking the cows, walking to country school and learning life’s lessons the hard way with her siblings. Case in point, after the relocation of the outhouse, yes, she was that old, her brothers thought it would be funny to challenge Betty by betting her that she could not run across the covered area of the outhouse that had been moved. They ran across the area on the outside knowing that the ground was solid, and Betty ran right through the middle and into the hole! What a crappy decision, literally. It is a story that she told and retold throughout the years. She was the fifth child of six.

As the years went by, she met Dean Davis with the United States Air Force her senior year. She graduated high school and became his wife. They were then blessed with Melinda in the fall of 1960, you will see a pattern later. He was relocated to the Azore Islands with the family and had many new experiences for Betty as she was not used to being anywhere but the farm. She grew up quickly before they were transferred back to the United States.

Betty took her first job in El Dorado in the earl 60’s at the local shoe factory where she learned to put buckles on shoes – not the highlight of her days! She was then moved to the packing department, oh my – she was now boxing the buckled shoes. She did this for several years before deciding to shake things up.

In the early 70’s Betty divorced and began a new adventure with her best friend, Margie. The two independent women loaded the station wagon and their children up and headed to Wyoming with little work experience Betty landed a job at the College Inn Bar – the top spot for single attractive women to make money in a land full of men. This became her second home where she made several lifelong friends and created memories that everyone would hear about for years to come. During this time, she met Nick Garnica and created her second fall baby, Shannon – 20 years later. This love story was short lived between traveling back home to Missouri – having a new baby and then returning to Douglas within a year.

In late 1980, she picked up right where she had left and returned to Douglas where Melinda was living. This allowed her to spend time with her grandchildren as well as have a full – time babysitter. You’re welcome, Melinda. It was not long before she would finally settle down with the love of her life, Hoot. The two of them had seven children between them. Not having a ton of money, they learned to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. This included hunting – a way to provide food, camping in Esterbrook, fishing, and attending sporting events for all the children, playing cards, and having family dinners. Although their time together was short lived with the passing of Hoot in 2000, they built a life that was surrounded by friends and family and shenanigans that cannot be repeated.

In 2007 Betty retired from her bartending days and made the decision to move back to El Dorado to be closer to her brothers. She bought a small house where she planted flowers, sat on her porch watching the birds, and spent the days with her brothers fishing and telling stories. Soon after her return to Missouri, the family members started to follow her. Shannon first, her grandson, Michael and then Melinda. She was always surrounded by family. Besides her grandchildren, fishing turned into her passion. Days by the water trying to catch “The Big One” were what she looked forward to.

Betty was the light in the room. She always told it like it was, people flocked to her and loved to be in her presence. She could always make anyone’s day brighter. She always had a shoulder to cry on and an ear for listening, truly a selfless woman. If she could do it for you, she would. Her smile, attitude, and off the wall remarks will forever be missed, almost as much as her fried chicken!

She was preceded in death by her father, Fay, on April 15, 1956; mother, Bessie, on February 3, 2000; husband, Jerry Ray “Hoot” Gibson, on June 28, 2000; siblings, Patsy Covington, Bill Herbst, and Bob Herbst; and grandchildren, Kailee Paquette and Dalton Miller.

Betty was survived by her daughters, Melinda (Dan) Wisser of El Dorado Springs, Missouri and Shannon Miller of Douglas; step children, Jerry Gibson, Charles Gibson, Hoot Gibson, Crystal Gibson, and David Gibson; brothers, Junior Herbst of Wheatland, Missouri and Jim (Lois) Herbst of El Dorado Springs; grandchildren, Michael Hershberger, Jason Howell, Bobby Howell, Misty Howell, Rick Howell, Stacy Howell, Ilyana Miller, and Marcus Miller; and numerous great grandchildren.

Serving as pallbearers were Lewis Covington, Lee Covington, Michael Hershberger, Jason Howell, Bobby Howell, and Alex Howell.

Serving as honorary pallbearers were Dan Wisser and Marcus Miller.

Memorials can be sent to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 would be appreciated by the family.

The Gorman Funeral Homes – Converse Chapel of Douglas, Wyoming was in charge of the arrangements.

Services for Betty June Gibson were held Monday, Sept. 25, at the Gorman Funeral Homes – Converse Chapel in Douglas, WY, with Pastor Zack Andrews of the First Baptist Church in Douglas officiating. Interment was in the Douglas Park Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com.