Frankie Joe Gibbs

Frankie's father owned a gas station on Hunnigton Highway, a few miles outside of Lufkin, she liked to share memories of this time. She skipped a grade in school and was proud of this accomplishment. Frankie played a silver clarinet in band, held first chair and was the only girl in the Dance Band. She graduated in 1950 from Lufkin High School. Frankie married her high school sweetheart, Coy Burges, and they owned and worked at Burges's Quality Meats. Together they had Roger, Debrah Kay and Lonnie. She loved to barrel race and has fond memories of riding in the Grand Entry at the Lufkin rodeo with her sister-in-law, Tooty. Frankie was also a race car driver in the powder puff derby and circle track. She won several trophies as #31. Frankie was involved in a horrible wreck in the 60's where she went through the windshield. She was told she would never work, walk, talk or even have children again. Frankie proved them all wrong. She worked for Sterling Faucet in the 60's as an assemble line worker. That's where she met her best friend, Jean Schneider. She was at a party one evening and happen to run into a gentlemen and told him he has something she would like to have. When he asked what that would be, she was referring to the gold key to the Cadillac he pulled up in. She had been the previous owner. The gentleman was J.R. Simpson, and they married in 1968, and she then had her last child, Tamisha Simpson in 1970. In 1975 she went to work at Tyler Pipe as a broom pusher for 2 years, and later became lead inspector in plastics. She retired after 20 plus years and many severe injuries. Always being the perfectionist and defying the odds on all obstacles given in her lifetime. Frankie had 2 speeds, full throttle and sleep. Lazy was never apart of her vocabulary. On September 30, 2018 she gave her soul to the Lord and she was baptized by Shane Barnes at Grace. On that day all her chains were broken and her ransom was paid at the cross. She moved to Lindale in the 80's and lived there ever since. She was in nursing on from January 2015 to November 2020. Frankie's favorite quote was, "I'd rather be a has-been, than a might-have-been by far; for a might-have-been her never been, but a has-was once an are."

Frankie was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Buddy Sims; sisters, Janie, Mable, Mozell, Reesie and "lil Winnie"; and great-grandson, Cameron James Hooks.

A funeral service for Frankie will be held Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at Tyler Memorial Funeral Home located at 12053 State Highway 64 W, Tyler, Texas 75704.