Jerry Gibson

Born in 1935 on a farm near Ambia, TX, Mr. Gibson was the younger of two sons born to Mildred and Johnny Gibson. He lived in east Texas until the age of twenty one when he married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Umberson of Roxton, TX, who would be his beloved wife for 56 years. Together they relocated to Louisiana in 1956 where their four children were born.

A man with a life-long interest in all things mechanical, Mr. Gibson worked as a photographer in Alexandria, LA in the 1950's and '60's. In 1973 the family moved to Sulphur, LA where Jerry opened his own photography studio, Jerry Gibson Photography. In 2000, Gibson merged with LifeTouch National School Studios.

A natural at business, Mr. Gibson also mastered the techniques of lighting and composition, and the art of creating a warm, friendly environment for his clients. He was known to generations of children as he documented the seasons of their lives year after year for family albums, elementary and high school year books and special occasions. After his family, his photography business was the center of his life, and whether at the mall, a restaurant or church, Mr. Gibson rarely went out without being approached by grown men and women wanting to say hello and reconnect with "the Picture Man." Jerry Gibson was also a friend and mentor to countless employees and associates.

When their family was young, the Gibsons loved to travel, taking their four children camping every Summer to places like the Grand Canyon, the Ozarks and Pensacola Beach. In the rare moments he was not photographing or spending time with his family, Jerry enjoyed tinkering; working on cars, watches, old cameras and refinishing antiques. In later years Jerry and Barbara enjoyed taking cruises to locales such as Alaska, the Panama Canal and the Bahamas. They especially loved traveling to visit their grand and great-grandchildren.

Mr. Gibson's survivors include wife Barbara, his four children, Veta Sprinkle and her husband Greg of Knoxville, TN., John "Eddie" Gibson of Jennings, DeAnn Sinrich and her husband David of Atlanta, GA., and Steve Gibson of Hopkinsville, KY.; eleven grandchildren, Ashley Tappan and her husband Chris, Avery Hardman and her husband Nathan, Weston Gibson and his wife Tanya, Jeff Gibson, Samantha Gibson with Kyle Gardiner, Tyler Logue, Zackary Goudeau, Haden Gibson, Lexi Gibson, Nathan Sinrich and his wife Kaylee, and Cassidy Sinrich; and nine great-grandchildren, Jaiden Landry, Bailee Landry, Jordyn Gibson, Cami Taylor, Elena Tappan, Maeve Tappan, Thea Tappan, Lincoln Hardman and Lola Hardman.

There will be a visitation Friday, May 18, 2012 at Hixson-Sulphur Funeral Home on 2051 East Napoleon St. ( Hwy 90) from 6 pm to 8 pm, and a memorial service Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 2:00 pm also at Hixson-Sulphur Funeral Home (337-625-9770).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Jerry Gibson's memory be made for Backpack Blessings, a local elementary school food program provided through Care Help of Sulphur. tel: (337) 528-2273 http://www.care-help.org