Name: McLeod Mortuary
Address: Escondido, CA

I miss James so much. The church building is so empty without him. It's been a comfort to dream about him and enjoy his presence again. How wonderful it will be when I can hear him say...."Well, well, well."

I love James and I miss his physical presence immensely. However, his words and his teachings are forever present. Every time I open my bible, his challenging words resonate in my mind,  "Let's not be shallow students of the Word." He set the example. Looking forward to seeing him again!

James, 
You have impacted so many people to love The Lord with all of their hearts. Thank you for your imprint in my life!
Corinne Christopher

Both James and JoAnne impacted me personally as well as my family in many ways. They did our marriage counseling, mentored us, parented us, and encouraged us. James performed our wedding 22 years ago, along with many others throughout the years. They welcomed us into their home(in Mama Lou's apt.) when our house was being remodeled. What an example they both were to us as a young family. They came to the hospital and helped me with the girls while Brett was away, James made sure we got in quickly since Sarah was having a hard time. He was such an advocate and cheerleader for those who needed to be lifted up and those who struggled in different ways, whether through broken families, disabilities, illness, homelessness, financial 
struggles, or marriage difficulties. I saw him over the years help so many others including our family, truly reflecting Christ's love for others. I thought of him like a father role in my life and grandparent to my children, he will be dearly missed by our entire family.

James will be truly missed. James and Joanne both taught me so much over the past 30 years about how to treat my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and how to raise my children.

James Gibbs was the most godly and Christ-like man we have ever seen or known.  He lived to be transformed in the image of Jesus Christ and totally conformed to His likeness.  James was the finest ambassador of Christ, a genuine minister of reconciliation, and a true servant of the gospel.  He and JoAnn influenced and impacted more people and souls for the cause of Christ that we could possibly calculate or comprehend.  We are more than confident and certain there are countless Christians that are faithfully walking with the Lord today, innumerable marriages that have been restored and saved, and countless homes that have been rescued to the glory of God through the faithful labors of James and JoAnn Gibbs.  Intellectually, scholastically,and academically James was a genius.  As a brother and friend in the Lord he loved and cared like no other.  As a spiritual mentor and teacher he had no peer; he could teach God's Word in the most practical and understandable way to any person regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, or maturity.  James was the personification of service.  James constantly put others' needs above His own.  He served always, sacrificed immensely, and was selfless to the core.  James and JoAnn helped and blessed our family in a multitude of ways.  We were privileged to stay with James and JoAnn at the Gibbs' estate on Cool Valley Road for six(6) weeks as we transitioned from Sunset in Lubbock, TX to our church-planting work in Mira Mesa and Chula Vista.  Our children will never forget the honey house, bee barn, orange orchards, and grapefruit trees.  We still have some buckwheat, sage, and orange honey left over from the Gibbs' apiary from 2006.  Our memories of moments and events shared with James and JoAnn will be treasured and cherished for a lifetime and beyond.  All to often people over work and misuse the descriptions "legend" and "hero."  Every saint in the body of Christ is significant, valuable, and precious, but every so often a child of God comes along whose footprint is so large and whose godly impact is so vast that to the praise of God's glory they would be considered legends or heroes of the faith, James absolutely can be described in that fashion!  James was a spiritual leader of great vision.  James humbly labored as a shepherd, pastor, and overseer whether he was officially ordained by the local congregation and carried the "title" or not.  James shared God's heart of "desiring all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."  He was all about being "diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" without compromising the truth of the Scriptures, the essence of the gospel, or ever being snared by the uniformity of legalism.  James always promoted and encouraged faithful men and women to teach others also after having heard and been taught by him in the presence of many witnesses.  James' legacy will most definitely live on through the myriad of souls he lovingly, gracefully, and beautifully touched to the exaltation of the Christ.  We fervently and earnestly pray for the amazing family he leaves behind so the entire Gibbs clan will be encouraged, strengthened, and comforted, yet we celebrate James' passing to eternity to worship the Creator and Lamb at the throne.  We praise and thank God daily for the gift by being loved and embraced by James Gibbs.
With thankful, grateful, and humble hearts, Jim, Becky, and Ryan Bender and Jaclyn (Bender) Smith

James exemplified human brotherhood- genuinely caring about others, appreciating all of Gods creation, excited about life and learning. Thank you God for James

We're going to miss him alot.Had the priviledge of seeing and eating with him this past August.A Godly man-what more positive thing can be said about anyone ? Ron and Rachel Gibbs

James is for me the combination of so many of my Bible heroes.  He has the encouraging heart of Barnabas, the keen mind of the Apostle Paul, the emotions of Peter, and the determination of Stephen.  He has been a model for so many of us and his wife Joan the gentle counterpart that made them such an effective pair in guiding the growth of a movement.  

James is far from conventional, challenging the practices and traditions of our spiritual movement, and unswerving in his desire to be faithful to the vision of Jesus for His church.  James could be convinced, not easily, but graciously.  I learned most of my early people skills from James and my Dad and I have been being fine tuned ever since then.  His is a legacy that reminds me of the line in Proverbs 31 that described Joan, his partner in life perfectly, but had this to say about her husband.

"Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land."   

James never sat down, but he was a man who retained his dignity to the last.  Death tries to rob us of that, but being a beekeeper and a follower of Jesus,  James knew the power of His Savior to remove the sting, and laugh at death, for it has no power over him.  

Most of all I think of Job when I think of James:

“How I long for the months gone by,
    for the days when God watched over me,
when his lamp shone on my head
    and by his light I walked through darkness!
Oh, for the days when I was in my prime,
    when God's intimate friendship blessed my house,
when the Almighty was still with me
    and my children were around me,
when my path was drenched with cream
    and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil.
“When I went to the gate of the city
    and took my seat in the public square,
the young men saw me and stepped aside
    and the old men rose to their feet;
the chief men refrained from speaking
    and covered their mouths with their hands;
the voices of the nobles were hushed,
    and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.
Whoever heard me spoke well of me,
    and those who saw me commended me,
because I rescued the poor who cried for help,
    and the fatherless who had none to assist them.
The one who was dying blessed me;
    I made the widow's heart sing.
I put on righteousness as my clothing;
    justice was my robe and my turban.
I was eyes to the blind
    and feet to the lame.
I was a father to the needy;
    I took up the case of the stranger.
I broke the fangs of the wicked
    and snatched the victims from their teeth.
“I thought, ‘I will die in my own house,
    my days as numerous as the grains of sand.
My roots will reach to the water,
    and the dew will lie all night on my branches.
My glory will not fade;
    the bow will be ever new in my hand.'
“People listened to me expectantly,
    waiting in silence for my counsel.
After I had spoken, they spoke no more;
    my words fell gently on their ears.
They waited for me as for showers
    and drank in my words as the spring rain.
When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it;
    the light of my face was precious to them.
I chose the way for them and sat as their chief;
    I dwelt as a king among his troops;
    I was like one who comforts mourners.

Though James was all of these things and more, I saw him live a life chastened by the Lordship of Jesus, and humbled under God's hand of discipline, and he became even dearer and purer, for he truly is a son of God.

Oh come, let come, that great awakening when we will share in glory with James, Joan, Paul, Jason, and all God's sons
and daughters.  They will not return to us, but we will go to them.

James Gibbs, a great man and brilliant teacher, who along w/ his wife Joann and his family made a profound impact on my life, which encouraged me to seek God and His Word throughout my life.  I am so thankful to have been privileged to cross paths with him.

In loving memory of James Gibbs one of the most amazing men I have ever known. He and his dear wire Joann had such a profound influence on our entire family in our Christian walk. My heart goes out to each of his children, their families and to North County church of Christ. So many good memories made with this family during our years in Escondido!

James had a huge impact on my life and the direction it took when I was but a young man!  He opened his home and his heart to me and my young family.  My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

We send our love and deepest sympathy to your family-such fond memories of our families being together in illinois in the fifties

Our condolences to the Gibbs family, we are sad to have lost a great example, but we feel blessed by the time he was with us. They are in our prayers.

Please note that the Memorial address is incorrect in this posting  The correct address is 130 Woodward Ave, Escondido, CA 92025

We would first like to express our sympathy to the Family.  James will always be etched in our minds and hearts, as he provided much guidance for us in our walk with the Lord.

My thoughts and prayers go out to this family. May God comfort and bless you

Our Dear James ... The Bee Guy ... 
You have touched so many lives in so many ways that you probably had never realized.  You've been an extraordinary person who stood above the rest.  Your generosity and sincerity will be remembered and your friendship will always be treasured.  It was an honor ... Sue Pote and Rich Volker
P.S. - Thank you for the best honey ever!

James you impacted my life as a young college student and showed me what God's love was all about and a love for his word. You will be remembered dearly and missed. Your brother in Christ, Ken Sutherland

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

James Harold Gibbs

12 août 1925 – 5 janvier 2014

McLeod Mortuary

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