George Durden Gibbs Jr.

George was born on October 17, 1938, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, the oldest child of George Durden Gibbs, Sr. and Mary Lucille Morgan Gibbs. He learned the value of hard work from a young age working in his grandmother’s flower shop, and he excelled in high school, graduating as the Valedictorian of the Yazoo City High School class of 1956. George was blessed with many wonderful friends in Yazoo City, but he knew from a young age that he would eventually leave that small town.

As a top student, it was one of George’s many responsibilities to greet special guests to the high school, which is how he came to meet the Navy recruiter who introduced him to the Navy’s ROTC scholarship program. George had never been out of sight of land in his life, but he recognized the opportunity this scholarship would provide for a college degree and was excited about the adventures an officership in the Navy could provide. After a rigorous application process, George was accepted into the program and his dreams of exploring the world outside of Yazoo City seemed within his grasp.

After being accepted, George’s next step was to apply to one or more of the 25 colleges and universities with Naval ROTC units. As it happened, two of his friends were planning to attend the University of Texas at Austin – or, as George would eventually come to know it, THE University. George considered attending UT one of the most fortunate decisions he ever made. He often said, “I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as quick as I could.”

After a one-year brush with Chemical Engineering, George changed his major to Business, another decision that would prove fortuitous in his life. He loved his time on the UT campus and cheering on his Longhorns, and he was eventually selected to become a Silver Spur, an on-campus organization tasked with the honor of caring for the beloved UT mascot, Bevo.

Upon graduation in January 1961, George received a commission as Ensign in the US Navy on the guided missile cruiser, USS Providence (CLG-6), part of the 7th Fleet based in Yokosuka, Japan. After two months there, the ship returned to the US (1st Fleet) and George was based in Long Beach, CA for a year. He then returned to 7th Fleet, this time for two years as an assistant navigator on the 7th Fleet Flagship – a fantastic situation for a junior office to find himself in.

The Navy years were special for George, full of the adventure he had been looking for outside of the sleepy town of Yazoo City. He would entertain family and friends alike throughout his years with funny and exhilarating stories of his time in the Navy. But a military career was not his ultimate dream, so when his service obligation ended in January 1964, he returned to civilian life.

After a brief reunion with family and friends in Yazoo City, George returned to Texas and found employment with Merrill Lynch in Austin. After completing a 7-month training period, which included 14 weeks training in New York City and Princeton, NJ, George returned to Austin and renewed his acquaintance with Eva Gayle Maxey, whom he had met at UT. The two ran into each other at a stop light in Austin and he asked her to dinner at the Tavern for that very night. The rest is history. The two were married on June 20, 1965. Theirs was a lifelong love story. Married almost 60 years, they shared a love of many things in life, including their family, the Longhorns, the Austin Symphony and their involvement with the continuing education group SAGE at UT. They were an inseparable couple with deep involvement in the Austin community.

George worked for Merrill Lynch for the next 40 years, becoming one of the most successful and respected members of that office. He was honest, straightforward and incredibly savvy, making him indispensable to his impressive list of clients. As a former manager and dear friend of George’s said at his retirement party, “If you want the litmus test for any idea, promotion or new approach, just wander over to George’s office and visit with him awhile. The navigator will let you know you are a little off course!”

George was a deeply-committed husband, father and grandfather. George and Eva Gayle had three children and six grandchildren, and his favorite times were those spent with family, whether for holiday gatherings, family vacations, or simply visiting one another.

He was the quintessential patriarch, leading his family with wisdom, love and grace - always with a little humor thrown in. His advice was sought after and always sound. His family loved, adored and respected him and his love of life in all of its forms. George found joy in an evening of dinner and jazz in New York City, a black-tie event at the Austin Symphony, a raucous Longhorn football game, a thought-provoking speaker at SAGE or a quiet evening at home with Eva Gayle. He had the depth of character that is often aspired to, but rarely attained.

George retired from Merrill Lynch in 2004, but he had no intention of sitting still. As lifelong lovers of the arts, George and Eva Gayle increased their involvement with the Austin Symphony. George became a leader amongst the Knights of the Symphony League and was honored as King Brio the LII at the Austin Symphony’s Jewel Ball in 2017. He also served as Chair of the SAGE Executive Committee and was awarded Member of the Year for his work in helping to find speakers, determine courses and organize events. George and Eva Gayle were also heavily involved in their Sunday School class: the Swift Class at Tarrytown United Methodist Church, where they have been members of for over 50 years.

George spent his lifetime amassing an extraordinary group of friends. Whether he met them during his early years in Yazoo City or during his time as a Silver Spur, or whether it was later in life through Sage or the Symphony, George cherished his friends. He enjoyed throwing dinner parties, carefully curating the evenings for the maximum enjoyment of his guests. George’s bi-monthly lunches with the ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out) were sacred. He relished in the exchange of ideas and life experiences that were shared during those lunches, and his friendships with the ROMEOs were a source of strength and comfort in his later years.

George is survived by his wife, Eva Gayle Gibbs; his sister, Anne Stanton; his aunt, Louise Gibbs Harwell; his daughter Pamela Magee and her husband David Magee and their children, Kyle, Lindsey and Amanda; his daughter Katherine Lewis and her husband Scott Lewis, and their children, Will, George and Charlotte; and his son Philip Gibbs.

A Visitation will be held at Weed Corley Fish, 5416 Parkcrest Drive, Austin, TX 78731 on November 17 at 4 pm CST. The Memorial Service will be held at Tarry Town Methodist Church, 2601 Exposition Blvd, Austin, TX 78703 on November 18 at 2pm with a reception to follow at the church. We encourage you to visit George’s webpage https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/austin-tx/george-gibbs-12060603 for all the details.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Austin Symphony at https://my.austinsymphony.org/donate/i/commemorativegiving