Bill Gibson
GIBSON - Bill was born April 29, 1927, on the Gibson family farm to Malcolm and Isobel Gibson, he died peacefully at Oyen Auxiliary on March 8, 2022.
He was the youngest of 8 children. His early life was spent on the farm with his brothers, Cecil, John, Allen, Norman and sisters Wilda, Evelyn and Betty.
Bill loved baseball and it was said that as soon as his chores were finished, he would spend countless hours practicing his pitching by throwing a baseball against a granary or playing catch with anyone who would do it.
As a young man, when he wasn’t busy with farm work, Bill spent his free time playing baseball with the Acadia Valley Dodgers or fishing and hunting with family or friends. He was an avid curler going to many bonspiels near and far. Later in life he took up golf and golfed well into his 80’s. He loved to go with the group of Acadia Valley golfers to wherever their friend Murray Peers booked them into for a few days of golfing.
Bill married Alison Flemmer on October 10, 1970, and became an instant father to her five children. Wow was life as he knew it, different. Lane was born in 1971. Family complete.
Farming together with his wife Alison and son Ken took up most of his time, but there was always time for annual fishing trips and camping trips with family and good friends.
Bill had a great sense of humor which was evident not long before passing away. Earlier Monday he woke once and threw his arms in the air and said “see, I’m still here”. He just wanted to go be with his wife. We laughed and he gave us that grin. Bill was an adventurer and loved to explore backroads. This never really worked out well and usually ended up lost with Alison saying “I told you so.”
A few days before Cheryl’s funeral, Alison wanted him to get a new suit. “What for” was his response and Marilyn said “I may get married one day” Bill responded with “I won’t hold my breath.”
Bill had a great love for reading and crossword puzzles, and this kept Carla busy putting books on his Ereader which she knew would result in a phone call that night because something was wrong with it. He had either pressed the screen to dark mode, or she forgot to turn off WIFI and it wouldn’t work. But they usually got it to work over the phone and if not, she went back for a visit. Maybe he just like to have Carla visit.
While still living at the farm, Bill had continued to make wine even after Alison passed. Usually having Carla, Nicole and Tyler help him to bottle it and occasionally tasting as they went. Lots of mishaps bottling which always ended with laughter and wearing more then we bottled.
Family get togethers at the farm for Easter or Thanksgiving usually ended up with us all outside on the deck swatting golf balls to the barn. Of course, it had to hit the middle window and go in to with the pot of money. It is amazing how nothing had ever got smashed or vehicles never got a dent. We would spend hours out there and the pleasure on Pops face was pure enjoyment. He would even make sure the grass was nicely cut so it wasn’t so hard to find wayward balls that managed to miss the barn. One time we all watched as Tyler hit it and it hit the metal on the barn door and came right back to the house hitting the eavestrough above the patio window. Pops said wow that was lucky, but we never quit.
He enjoyed watching Lane play ball especially when he pitched. I don’t think he ever missed a game. He proudly displayed his signed ball of the AV Dodgers and the picture they had taken of anyone who had been on the team. Proudly displayed above his tv to see whenever he watched tv.
Bill is survived by his children Lane (Kelsey), Bev, Ken (Sheila), Marilyn (Larry), Carla (Brent), Ian (Thelma), Grandchildren; Paige, Michelle (Colin), Chris (Shannon), Nicole (Cory), Tyler, Courtlen (Brayden), Madisen, Christina (Barney) and Chris (Lisa), Great-Grandchildren;
Brook-Lyn, AJ, Mackenzie, Quinn, Halen, Jaxson, Connor, Kendall, Grayson, Brixton, Peyton, Logan, Morgan, Haley, Austin and Brandon, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Bill is predeceased by his wife Alison, daughter Cheryl, sisters; Wilda, Ev, Betty, brothers; Cecil, John, Allen and Norman, brothers-in-law; Bob Peers, Art Dalshaug, Alvin Purper, Norman Phillip, sisters-in-law; Emma Gibson and Marilyn Gibson.
Memorial donations may be directed to the Oyen and District Health Care Foundation. Box 1 Oyen AB T0J 2J0.
The funeral service was held on Saturday March 12, 2022 at the Acadia Valley Community Hall in Acadia Valley.
Funeral arrangements in the care of MacLean’s Funeral Home in Oyen, AB
To leave condolences please visit ofsmacleans.com