Florie Gibson of Rosman, North Carolina, formerly of Knox County, departed this life on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at the Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard, North Carolina being 83 years, 4 months and 15 days of age. Florie was born September 25, 1938, one of twelve children, born to the late Dewey Jordan and the late Essie Gambrel Jordan. In May of 1958 she was united in marriage to the late William “Bill” Gibson and to this union ten children were born. In addition to her parents and husband she was also preceded in death by her daughter: Mary McDonald; grandson: Kyle Parnell; and several brothers and sisters.
She leaves behind to honor her legacy, nine children: Jessie Gibson and wife Cathy of Jamestown, Tennessee, Roger Gibson of Naples, Florida, Amy Smith and husband Mark of Manchester, Kentucky, Holly Wolter and husband Dennis of Rosman, North Carolina, Jerry Abner of Manchester, Kentucky, Kathy Gibson of Cape Coral, Florida, Keith Gibson of Florence, Kentucky, Calvin Gibson of Portage, Indiana, Bryan Gibson and wife Betty of Portage, Indiana; eighteen grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren and a host of brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews family and friends.
Florie Gibson was one of a kind, you may have known her for a brief moment or your whole entire life and you would understand just what I mean by that statement…well, that is unless you’ve also met Holly, Jerry or Kathy because they’re pretty much the same, loud, full of laughs, drawing and you don’t ever have to spend one moment of your time wondering what they think, because you’ll know! Whether she was babying Amy, talking about how proud she was of her grandchildren, in her later years blaming her mischief on Adrian or getting her way with Den, there was nobody like her!
She was always active, she loved to shop, cook, garden, take spontaneous road trips, Wal-mart, endless shrimp, or just having fun and that meant she was down for the ride, no matter what it was! She didn’t ever age, maybe physically, but her personality and drive didn’t slow. Old age, her stroke, a broken foot, or even a pandemic; nothing made her wanna throw in the towel and settle down in a recliner, what was the fun in that? There were people to see, stores to be visited, food to be eaten…mostly carbs…mostly filled with pure sugar!
She loved her family, she knew how to make her presence felt and to ensure that every single person she loved knew that and just how much. She was something different to everyone and answered to many names! Whether she was mom, mamaw, Florie, Gibby, Champ or Yoo-hoo, she had a way of making each person in her life feel like they were the favorite! Trust me, just ask Jon, Justin or Jason! Each life she touched knew her love and she didn’t neglect to let them know the extent of it. She was a protector, friend, go to for a good down home cooked meal, and your biggest fan.
She spent every single minute of her life, taking it all in, loving and appreciating the time she was given. She didn’t miss an opportunity to share a smile or show herself friendly, never meeting a stranger, she’d talk to the lady she’d never met before in the spice isle at Wal-Mart, on one of her 5am runs, just as freely as she would someone she’d known for ages. Whether it was going out on the boat with her kids and having a few drinks and laughs, collecting a couple (or 50) Mardi Gras beads at Felda, cooking many delicious spreads for her family, driving all the way to Jerry’s in Kentucky from Indiana once while she was sick just to randomly clean her walls, telling the stories of a lifetime to anyone who’d listen, forgetting Calvin at a baseball field, or asking Jon to paint her toenails for her knowing he’d never say no, every memory with her was rich, vibrant and worthy to be shared.
She loved to visit and to spend time with those dear to her, often showing up unplanned and unannounced for a visit, leaving you feeling full that she had came but she didn’t let you know she was leaving. She’d have her visit but when she took a notion to go, she went and it was often without saying goodbye! She had a free spirit and independence that will proceed her long after her passing. If she wanted to do something, she did it! When she wanted to, on her time and In her way.
That is just how her last days on this earth went too, she had a brief sickness, there was struggle but she was surrounded by her family every minute of the time, sharing stories, laughs, lots of love and tears; and she lingered with them in her sickness for a moment, but when she was ready, she went, without a fuss and without saying goodbye, in her Florie way. She left the hearts of so many who had adored her sore but the imprint she had made on their lives and the memories are enough to make it feel like she will always be here, because it’s never goodbye with Florie!
You are cordially invited to a time of visitation on Saturday, February 12, 2022 from 6 – 9 P.M. at the Knox Funeral Home.
A funeral service to commemorate the life of Florie Gibson will be conducted in the chapel of Knox Funeral Home at 11:00 A.M. on Sunday, February 13, 2022 with Rev. James McDonald officiating. She will be laid to rest at the Farley Cemetery with Calvin Gibson, Jr., Jonathan Ault, Kevin Gibson, Nate Gibson, Jessie Gibson II, Adrian Wolter, Justin Gibson, Jessie Gibson III and Ian Gibson serving as pallbearers.
Knox Funeral Home is entrusted with all arrangements.
