Evon M. Gibson

Evon Mavis Ruth Gibson was born March 26, 1929 in Onawa, Iowa to George C. Ruth and Anena Sorenson Ruth. She was raised on a dairy farm in western Iowa. It was during the depression, but she always thought her family was rich. Milk could be used for trade of just about anything including weekly tickets at both town movie theaters. When the family farmhouse burned to the ground December 1932, she was carried down to the barn by the hired girl for safety. She was very proud of her Danish heritage and would proudly discuss the family history.

Evon attended a one room country school. She was a precocious little girl who skipped a grade and later graduated valedictorian from Whiting High School. At 17, she headed east to attend the University of Iowa in Iowa City. She lived in a boarding house across the river and had to cross the bridge both ways in the snowy cold to get to campus. Evon studied Psychology and Education and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

On one of her trips home to Onawa, she met an older student on the train, one of those GIs home from WWII. They shared a cab, attended football games, partied at school dances and got engaged. Immediately after graduation, Evon married James F. Gibson March 4, 1950, dancing to the sound of a big band at the reception. They moved to Newton, Iowa where they both worked for Maytag. Housing was at a shortage in the 1950s, so they lived in a converted garage apartment until Jim built them a home .

Once Sharon and Dan were born in Newton, Evon devoted her time to her family and volunteer work. Jim got a job opportunity at Texas Instruments so the family moved to Dallas in 1957 and on to Richardson in 1959. Diane completed the family in 1963. Evon always thought Texas was a special place.

She was a 55-year member of First Presbyterian Church and volunteered over 40 years in the Clothes Closet. When it first began, volunteers would drive to the homes of families to deliver clothes. In later years, clients came to the church during open hours. Evon spent years volunteering with those who became her dearest friends.

Evon also stayed busy volunteering with all the kids’ activities, leading Cub Scouts and Camp Fire Girls. She attended football, soccer, baseball and softball games, organ, choir, band and dance recitals and musicals for children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Evon was a voracious reader. She particularly enjoyed all types of periodicals. She also loved sharing articles by providing a clipping service of interesting details with her family.

Evon Gibson passed quietly at Sharon’s home July 8, 2019. Today we celebrate a life well lived and much love shared with her family and friends.

Evon was preceded in death by her parents, George Charles Ruth and Anena Margretha Sorenson Ruth, husband, James F. Gibson and brother, Don E. Ruth. Survivors include her brother Richard (Jean) Ruth, children Sharon (Robert) Relyea, Daniel (Tami) Gibson, Diane (Kris) Eckols, grandchildren Jason (Brittany) Gibson, Natalie Gibson, Elizabeth Relyea-Wallace, Scott (Amber) Relyea, James Eckols, Eric Ingraham, Aaron (Jenny) Ingraham, great-grandchildren Conner Ingraham, Emorie Wallace, Landrie Relyea and Sutton Relyea, brother-in-law Gene (Anita) Gibson and many, many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank Faith Presbyterian Hospice for their wonderful care.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Evon Gibson Memorial Fund at First Presbyterian Church of Richardson or to Presbyterian Children's Home and Services (www.pchas.org).