Richard Lloyd Gibson

The family moved to McCook, Nebraska when Dick was about two years old as his father was working for the American Sunday School Union, initiating teaching sites in the one-room schoolhouses of western Nebraska. When Dick’s father realized he could not raise all the children on his salary he changed jobs and moved the family to the city of Auburn, in southeastern Nebraska. They lived about nine miles from Missouri and a few miles from Iowa and Kansas.

Dick attended elementary school in McCook, Nebraska and was graduated from Auburn High School in Auburn, Nebraska in 1950. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force to beat the draft and spent his years in military service during the Korean conflict and the Cold War during 1952-1956. These years were divided between San Antonio, Texas, and Anchorage, Alaska.

After the Air Force, Dick attended Oklahoma Baptist University, graduating with a degree in music education. He later studied at the University of Denver, where he was awarded a Master of Arts degree in library science.

In December of 1956, Dick had the good fortune to marry Maggie (Margaretha) Claeson, a native of Omaha, Nebraska and a graduate of the University of Omaha. Maggie was the daughter of Swedish immigrants, and later the two would travel to Sweden for family reunions. Maggie later became a Certified Petroleum Landman. Dick and Maggie lived in the suburbs of Denver while Dick was engaged in bi-vocational music ministry work in several churches there.

Dick and Maggie lived in Colorado for 41 years. After receiving his master’s degree from the University of Denver, Dick worked for the Denver Public Schools (DPS) for 31 years first as an instructional media specialist until he worked teaching television production for his final six years with the district. One of his crowning achievements with DPS was the production of a series of student-produced video histories of survivors of the Holocaust, for which he received the “Alfie” award. Dick retired from the Denver Public Schools in 1992.

Dick and Maggie had two sons – Richard, Jr. and Tom, both of whom graduated from Baylor University. Rick received a geology degree from Baylor, and then a Ph.D. in geophysical research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Tom received his juris doctor degree from Baylor University Law School. When Rick began working for Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, Dick and Maggie moved to Tyler, Texas, in 2001 to help Tom and Robin with their four young sons.

After Maggie passed away unexpectedly in 2003, Dick met Carol Brumfield on a Bible study cruise, and they later married. They enjoyed the next years in Tyler, involved in Green Acres Baptist Church, traveling, and spending time with both of their families.

Both sons eventually moved, Rick to Littleton, Colorado, and Tom to McKinney, Texas.

Dick passed away on November 30, 2024, at the age of 92. He is survived by his son Rick and his wife Melissa and their children, Aidan and Elizabeth; son Tom and his wife Robin, and their four sons Michael, Mitchell (Sarah Beth), Adam (Michaela), and Aaron (Taylor); great-grandsons, Everett, Brooks, and soon-to-be-born baby Gibson; and many in-laws, nephews, and nieces.

The family would like to express their appreciation for the staff at Teresa’s House in McKinney, Texas, for the care and compassion that they showed to Dick during his final year.

“Jesus is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.” -Romans 8:37

The family will gather to receive friends on Saturday, Dec. 7th at 9:00 a.m. at Lloyd James Funeral Home. Services will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. Committal services will follow at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery with Military Honors.