Barbourville, Ky. – Ivadean Gibson, 88, of Girdler, passed away peacefully,Wednesday, July 22, 2020. Ivadean was the daughter of George Robert and Nannie B. Harmon, joyfully born to them on March, 22, 1932 in Somerset. Ivadean was raised in the Oak Hill community of Somerset and attended Nancy High School. She then graduated from Eastern Kentucky University before marrying the love of her life, Claude Arthur Gibson Jr., on March 25, 1951. Ivadean and Claude settled in the communities of Fount and later, Girdler, where they created a loving home, raising their two beloved children, daughter Claudia and son Gary, together.
Ivadean successfully juggled being a passionate homemaker and a working mother. Her work history stirs nostalgic memories. Alongside Claude, Ivadean ran a country grocery store in Fount, Gibson’s Grocery, for many years, often working twelve hours a day there to serve her community. She then worked as a teacher, in one-room school houses, at Rock Springs and Disappointment. Ivadean next explored cosmetology, by attending school and then working at Lenola’s Beauty Shop in Barbourville. Ivadean was creative. She had many talents including: quilting, crocheting, knitting, gardening, cooking and canning. You could count on Ivadean to fix a thing or two as well – like repairing lamps and reupholstering furniture.
Ivadean was very direct and always spoke the truth. She was known to be a great supervisor. But Ivadean was also kind with unwavering compassion for others,which she showed through her gift giving and through the countless hours of service to her community and to her church. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend. Ivadean enjoyed her family immensely. She loved spending time with them, especially cooking for them and taking them shopping. Whenever possible, she was in the stands or in the audience cheering her grandchildren on at their ballgames, choir concerts, and school plays. Ivadean also enjoyed traveling, venturing away from home many times during her life via bus and cruise ships to explore new places.
Ivadean was a dedicated, life long member of the Locust Grove Baptist Church. Until her death, she was the oldest living member of the church, becoming a member of the church community in 1960. Ivadean deeply loved her church community and gave the gift of service to many groups within the church. She was always eager to help the church with cleaning, decorating, and supporting the Church Bible School as a clerk and helping the Sunday School teachers as a classroom aid. Ivadean was famous among the church congregation for her beautiful handmade baby afghans, as well as, for her delicious pecan pies and cole-slaw.
Ivadean was active also in the communities where she lived and worked. She was a member of the Daughters’ of the American Revolution, Dr. Thomas Walker Chapter, Knox County Homemakers, Knox County Unite, Knox Association of Women’s (Baptist) Missionary Union, and the Locust Grove Baptist Church Women’s Sunday School Class.
In addition to her parents, George Robert Harmon and Nannie B. (Trimble) Harmon, Ivadean was preceded in death by her dear husband of fifty-two years, Claude Arthur Gibson, Jr.; by four brothers; Halsey Harmon, Leonard Harmon, Lawrence Harmon, Claude Harmon, and by three sisters; Mary Wright, Elise Smith and Wanda Laugherty.
Left behind to mourn Ivadean’s passing are her beloved children, daughter Claudia Gibson Greenwood (David) of Gray and son Gary Gibson (Melissa) of Venice, Fl. She will also be greatly missed be her adored grandchildren, Lee Gibson (Tina) of Louisville, Ky. and Beau Gibson (Gerda) of Frankfurt, Germany, as well as, her five beautiful great-grandchildren: Laura, Greta, Jack, Mae and Madelin.
The Gibson family will receive friends at the Locust Grove Baptist Church, Girdler, Sunday, July 26, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. until the funeral hour of 2:00 p.m. Reverend David Barnard and Reverend Jimmy Siler will officiate. Musical Tributes will be performed by Mrs. Gibson’s grandsons, Beau and Lee. Burial will immediately follow the funeral service at the Barbourville Cemetery. The Gibson family has chosen Keith Gibson, Garrett Hinkle, Blake Hinkle, Bobbie Turteltaub, Grover Gambrel, Ralph David Halcomb, BJ Wright and Phillip Daulton to be casket bearers. The Gibson family has chosen as honorary casket bearers: members of the DAR, Dr. Thomas Walker Chapter, Knox County Homemakers, Knox County Unite members, the Knox Association of the Woman’s (Baptist) Missionary Union, the Locust Grove Women’s Sunday School Class, and all Locust Grove Church members.
The Hopper Family, Victoria Hopper and Sally Hopper, and the staff of Hopper Funeral Home, extend our sincere condolences to the family of Ivadean Gibson.
Hopper Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of servicing all arrangements for Ivadean Gibson.
