Nancy Vaughan Gibson was born on November 11, 1945, in Fort Smith, AR, the second child to William Dudley & Regina Elizabeth (Vaughan) Cardwell. After a long battle with cancer, Nancy’s earthly life ended on September 14, 2020, in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
She attended St. Scholastica Academy, graduating Class of ’63 in Fort Smith. From there, Nancy earned her BSE & MSE in Special Education & Biology with a minor in Psychology at the University of Arkansas. Afterword, Nancy spent a brief stint of time in Tulsa, where she worked in education at the Hissom Memorial Center for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities before coming back home to Fort Smith, where she went to work for the Public School System. On December 23, 1976, Nancy married Charles Wayne Scamardo in Pulaski County, AR. They were married for 25 years until Charlie’s death. In 2003, Nancy retired from a long, successful career working in Special Education & teaching Biology at Fort Smith’s Northside High School where she remains loved and well respected by not only former students, but faculty as well. Nancy has said many times throughout her lifetime “I was put on this earth to be an educator.” On October 13, 2007, Nancy was united in marriage to Wesley Gibson who has remained her constant companion since that time. Together, they were parents to her special girl, “Breezy”, a female English bull dog.
It should be noted- the rich heritage Nancy hailed from in the Sebastian County area; her Mother, and aunt, Genevieve (Sis) Hamer (twins), were the first females in the State of Arkansas to achieve status as Eagle Scout, as well as being among only five females in the Nation, as such at that time. Additionally, Nancy’s maternal grandfather, Judge William Henry Vaughan, was instrumental in the establishment of the first Catholic Mission in Northwest Arkansas, now known as Tontitown. When two Jesuit monks arrived from Rome in search of a place for this mission, Judge Vaughan helped Father Tonti & the other Priest setup the new parish. For this, Pope Pius X sent letters of gratitude along with a Blessed Cross back to Judge Vaughan for his contributions toward the new mission. Nancy has left instructions for the Cross to be entrusted to Church of The Immaculate Conception for historical preservation in Fort Smith.
Nancy was preceded in death by both parent’s and her sister, Sue Ann Cardwell and first Husband, Charlie Scamardo, Sr.. She is survived by her husband, Wes Gibson; a step-daughter, Alexis Gibson; first cousin’s, Alma (Sisty) Williams and Patricia Gould of Washington State; her special “fur-baby”, Breezy; as well as numerous extended family throughout the U.S. Nancy also leaves innumerable friends and to celebrate her life!
On Monday, September 21st, a private Rosary will be held at 11:30am in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, followed by a Funeral Mass at 12noon. Interment of her ashes will occur immediately following the mass at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Columbarium. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Fentress Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 22 North 13th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901
