Gilbert Ivan Tennison, 91, passed away on March 19, 2026 in Lake Charles, LA where he had been living at Brookdale Senior Living. He was born in Bowlegs, Oklahoma to Ocey Everett Tennison and Grace Allred.
In 1945, his family moved from Oklahoma to Maplewood when his father began working for Cities Service. Gilbert was baptized at First Baptist Church of Maplewood and was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Sulphur for over 50 years as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and member of both the church choir and the Agin’ Cajun Choir. He actively served on numerous church committees and found great joy in serving the Lord. Most recently, he attended CrossRoads Moss Bluff, where he formed many new friendships. He was always willing to help others and volunteered wherever needed.
Gilbert loved spending time with family, hunting, fishing, and relaxing at his camp at Toledo Bend. In recent years, he reconnected with old friends at FBC Maplewood through their Thursday Bible study, lunches, and Game Day gatherings.
A lover of the outdoors and travel, Gilbert made it a family tradition to start many summer adventures the day school ended. The girls would be picked up on the last day of school with a packed car and a homemade trailer he had designed to carry camping gear and supplies for weeks of road-tripping across the United States. When the opportunity arose to move to Canada for work, what was meant to be a nine-month move became a two-year adventure, filled with unforgettable memories and wonderful new Christian friendships.
Among his most treasured outdoor experiences, Gilbert flew into the Northwest Territories for a once-in-a-lifetime hunt where he fulfilled a lifelong dream by harvesting a moose. Another cherished highlight was when his friend flew the family over the Athabasca River in a plane watching as the frozen river awaken after months of being asleep and seeing an ariel view as the current underneath the water forcefully rushed and broke the ice into large pieces as if in a domino affect as the winter thaw began—a memory that remained vivid and joyfully retold.
Gilbert graduated from Sulphur High School in 1953 and attended McNeese State College (now University) before serving in the U. S. Army from 1954-1956, during which he was stationed in Worms, Germany. After returning home, he married his high school sweetheart, Jean Moss, on April 29, 1957. Before his military service, he worked at Cit-Con Corporation and later returned to work for PCI. In 1962, he transferred to the Cities Service Butyl Rubber Plant. From 1977-1979, he worked for Syncrude Canada Ltd. in Fort McMurray, Alberta, then later transferred to Columbian Chemicals Company in Franklin, Louisiana where he worked until retiring in 1991.
Gilbert and Jean were married for 51 years and had four daughters: Sophia Robin (Mark) of Moss Bluff, Michelle Lanier (James) of Carlyss, Sandria Mable Tennison, and Robbin Vincent (Dean) of Carlyss. He was blessed to be called PaPa to eleven grandchildren: Lacie Cox, Andrew Robin, Sylvia Burleson, Hannah Anthon, Zachary Lanier, Noah Lanier, Seth Lanier, Benjamin Lanier, Lane Lanier, Jessica Olsen, and Olivia Hockenjos along with sixteen great-grandchildren: Dax Robin, Nathan Anthon, Georgia Burleson, William Cox, Trapper Dean Robin, John Cox, Everett Burleson, Gilbert Anthon, Avery Olsen, Emma Anthon, Connor Lanier, Wesley Anthon, Josie Dean Hockenjos, Valerie Lanier, Esther Anthon and Korie Anne Hockenjos. He is also survived by one brother, Carl Lee Tennison of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
He is survived by his second wife, Debra Tennison whom he married on June 22, 2012. She is the mother to Adena Smith (Clint) and has two children, Asher and Anne who also call him PaPa.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jean; his infant daughter, Sandria Mable; his sisters, Joann Johnson McMillian and Rose Etta Hidalgo; brother, Jimmie Tennison; parents, Ocey and Grace Tennison; and his in-laws whom he loved as parents, Robert and Mable Newton Moss.
Visitation will be from 4 until 7 PM, Tuesday, March 24, 2026 and will resume at 9:30 AM on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 with services beginning at 11 AM at Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home, 2051 E. Napoleon Street, Sulphur, LA 70663. Burial will follow at Sallier Cemetery in Lake Charles.
Pallbearers will be Andrew Robin, Clint Smith, Zachary Lanier, Noah Lanier, Seth Lanier and Lane Lanier.
Words of comfort, memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.
