Robbie Gibson

Robbie Gibson, a loving, gracious matriarch of five generations, died August 6th at 104 years old. Robbie was born and raised on a farm outside Jonesboro, Texas along with three sisters and three brothers. At an early age, Robbie and her siblings suffered the loss of their parents to infectious disease. Robbie spent her teenage years surviving the Great Depression. It was during those difficult times when she learned to squeeze pennies out of a nickel.

Making her way to Austin at the age of 19, Robbie was married to Coy Middleton. The couple was blessed with three children; Marguerite, Doris and Billy. The marriage was short and Robbie found herself a widow at age 27 with three small children. Desperate times called for desperate measures, so Robbie worked outside the home, drove a car, wore pants, brought home the bacon, fried the bacon and fed her family.

Robbie did remarry Marvin (Bud) Gibson, a union lasting 44 years. She was a career woman before her time and continued to work outside the home. Her hard work ethic led her to becoming an entrepreneur and opening her own drapery business. Her business success allowed her to train and employee women in her drapery workroom where she continued to work until the ripe age of 101 years old. Robbie enjoyed her customers and employees. The work she created can be seen in the LBJ Library which is a replica of his office in Washington, D. C., Texas Capital, and throughout the country.

Robbie wasn’t all work. She did enjoy traveling and eating good Bar-B-Q. She loved animals, her family and friends. She lived her life as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, and entrepreneur.

She is survived by her daughter Doris Higginbotham and husband Bob, 7 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, 6 great-great grandchildren, 1 nephew and 1 niece.