Garland Gillis Gibbs

Garland Gillis Gibbs, b May 3, 1919 near Rosebud, Falls County, Texas, d July 1, 1976 in Marlin, Texas and buried in the Stranger Cemetery in Falls County - was the youngest child of William Robert Kendrick and Willie Laurine (Lucas) Gibbs, natives of Milam County, Texas.

Garland attended school in Rosebud, was a Boy Scout, a member of the Baptist Church, and a Future Farmer of the Rosebud Chapter. He attended Texas A&M University, where he studied Vocational Agriculture, but due to finances, did not graduate. In 1938 he went to work at his brother's (R. W. Gibbs) Humble Service Station in Rosebud - moving with his family to Marlin in 1939 to open a new Humble Station on the Courthouse Square.

In January 1940, Garland was among the early draftees prior to World War II, but was classified 4-F because of a leg injury he had received as a child.

On August 31,1941 in Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas, he was married to Marian Mitchell Garrett, b August 12, 1919 at Blue Ridge - a daughter of Sanford Quay and Agnes Estelle (Mitchell) Garrett, natives of Stranger and Blue Ridge, respectively.

Marian was a 1936 graduate of Cleburne High School, and received her degree in Vocational Economics from Texas Women's University in Denton. She taught elementary grades at Stranger for two and one-half years, resigning to become the organizer and first Supervisor of the Falls County School Lunch Program, sponsored by the Works Projects Administration.

After their marriage, Garland and Marian lived in Marlin until 1942, when Garland became employed at the Humble Oil and Refinery at Bay town, Texas where they remained until after the war, and where their three sons were born. In 1946, the family moved to a 75-acre farm they had purchased at Stranger, with Garland resuming his employment at the Gibbs Humble Station in Marlin. Three years later, they sold the farm, and Marian began a twenty-six year career of teaching Vocational Economics.

They were members of the Presbyterian Church in Bay town, Lott, and Marlin - with Garland serving as a Deacon in the last two churches. He was a member of the Lion's Club, and participated in all school activities.

Garland became an Humble Agent on Highway 6 North in Marlin, worked for Chatmas Wholesale, The Texas Highway Department, and spent his last fifteen years as a driver for Erskine Brothers Cattle Trucking, Inc. It was on a trip to Bismarck, North Dakota that he had a severe heart attack on October 14, 1975, with a second fatal attack on July 1, 1976 - the same day Marian had retired from teaching.

Garland and Marian (Garrett) Gibbs had three children:

John Garland Gibbs, b November 30,1942 in Baytown, Texas, is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin as a Registered Pharmacist. He owns the Gibbs Drug Store in Nocona, Texas. On June 4, 1965 in Dallas County, Texas, he married Donna Summers, b February 27, 1943 - also a University of Texas at Austin graduate. She manages Superior Medical Supplies, Inc. in Nocona. They have three sons: Paul Stephen Gibbs, b August 13, 1968, Mark Eric Gibbs, b May 2, 1970, and Brian David Gibbs, b January 21, 1975.

David Eugene Gibbs, b June 6, 1944 in Bay town, Texas, received his B.S. and Master's degrees in Indus- trial Arts from Tarleton State University. He taught school in Fort Worth, Texas, and then purchased "Uncle Dave's" Pawn Shop there. On June 6, 1966 at Morton, Texas, he married Lois Catherine Courtney, b February 1, 1944 in Morton, who received her B. S. degree in Vocational Economics from Texas Technological College at Lubbock, and her Master's degree from Tarleton State University. She taught in West Texas, was a Demonstration Agent in Stephenville, and was a Vocational Economics teacher in Fort Worth until she joined her husband in the family business. They have two daughters: Dana Elizabeth Gibbs, b October 4, 1970 in Fort Worth, and Julie Lynn Gibbs, b January 25,1974 in Fort Worth.

Gary Milton Gibbs, b June 7, 1946 in Bay town, Texas, served in the U.S. Navy for eight years and was with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean and the 7th Fleet at Vietnam (Gulf of Tonka Supply Ship from Subic Bay, Philippine Islands). He received his B.S. and Master's degrees from Sam Houston State University, and is employed as Purchasing Agent for Windsor I.S.D. at the Texas Department of Corrections in Huntsville. On June 10, 1967 in Marlin, Texas, Gary married Patti Jo Skiles, b September 13, 1947, who is assistant vice president at First National Bank of Huntsville. They have one son, Craig Michael Gibbs, b October 18, 1969 at Beeville, Texas.

Some biographies from "Families of Falls County", compiled and edited by the Falls County Historical Commission.
Permission granted to Theresa Carhart by the Falls County Historical Commission, for use on this page.