Linda Nell Coats Gibson, 72, daughter of Ansel Leycester and Blanche Beatrice Boyd Coats, was born May 9, 1946, in Springfield. She died at home on May 24, 2018.
Linda grew up on the Coats family farm west of Houston, where she was active in the Hightown 4-H Club. She graduated in 1964 from Houston High School. She was a member of the Future Homemakers of America and sang in the high school mixed chorus.
She married Kenneth Ray Gibson on Aug. 1, 1964. They moved in 1966 to the family farm, where they continued living. Kenneth was in partnership with his father-in-law in the dairy business. After selling the dairy animals in 1994, Kenneth continued in the beef business, raising purebred Angus.
Linda went to work for Bob and Lane Davis at Texas County Printing in 1964. She worked for Houston Newspapers, publishers of the Houston Herald, for more than 44 years. Over the years at the newspaper, she sold advertising, did ad and page layout, bookkeeping and payroll, was the contact person with area schools and was an associate editor and proofreader.
After leaving the paper, she worked for Community Bank as it opened a branch in Houston. She also was the volunteer coordinator for the Houston Visitors Center. This year she received the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award.
Over the years, music was an important part of her life. She sang and played the piano at churches in the Texas County Baptist Association where her husband pastored: Union, Central, Eunice, Elk Creek, Hickory Ridge, Rock Springs and Northside Baptist churches and for numerous weddings and funerals for more than 50 years. She was a part of the Texas County Community Singers, serving the group as contact secretary.
For several years she was a counselor and director at Simmons Baptist Camp operated by Texas County Baptist Association.
After her retirement, she worked with Kenneth with his commercial Angus cow/calf herd. She was the newborn calf checker during calving season. She also raked hay and hauled and stacked the big round bales from the field. During the winter, she helped with the hay feeding.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Surviving are her husband; two sisters, Judy Annette Grider of Bolivar and Helen Mae Allen of Springfield; four nieces; and a nephew.
Services were 11 a.m. Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Ozark Baptist Church with the Rev. Van Kirkwood officiating. Burial was in Ozark Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home. Pallbearers were Randy Beasley, Eryc Koch, Robert Stringer, Mark Harper, Bob Bryson and Gary Brim.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Simmons Baptist Camp c/o the Texas County Baptist Association, in her memory. Online condolences may be expressed at www.evansfh.com.