James Wilmoth Gibson Jr.

Like the amoebae that nearly did him in at age 10, James was an aggressive collector of an amorphous pile of things my mother could only refer to as "junk". Once encircled and obtained, rarely did any item escape unless it was moved to the garage with overflow moved to the shed that then became a barn. Being a jack of many trades and a master of few, if any, did not dissuade its sporadic but constant growth or the gainful appetite of its attendant.

This "collection" was the cause of most battles between the battleship USS Georgia (James) and the aircraft carrier USS Wanda. You may think that he would be the swifter of the two, and thus easily capable of escape. but her innate ability to persevere with wave after wave of aerial onslaught rarely failed a mission. and no one can deny that after 59 years of marriage, a well orchestrated battle here and there can be expected and even more accurately predicted. My brother and I became quite accomplished climatologists, rarely missing a storm. That's not to say there was not Love between these two, James and Wanda. They began as highschool sweethearts, in her drum majorette spinning the iconic silver baton and wearing tasseled short boots and flared skirt as co-captained him on the football and basketball teams, lettering in both. Being the younger of the two sons and unfairly having the smallest of 3 bedrooms, I had no common wall with my parents room. I did not know until later in my teens after seizing control of the middle sized bedroom, that they would often stay up at night for long stretches of time conversing about their day, and civilly at that! Though each may deny it, in many ways they were two peas in a pod. All the battles of my childhood seemed less important, less earth shatteringly dire.

Relationships are essentially custom made. And each has a depth that is inaccessible to outsiders. Whether that origin be a bright star or a dark seed, with a few exceptions only those involved will ever truly know. I like to think that I am one of the few who have had the privilege to know the truth of another's relationship story- the truth whispered during the quiet of night and unknowingly heard through the bedroom wall.

Families generally don't get to choose the next generation of incoming members--(ok perhaps metaphysically we do, but that's a notion neither of my parents would ever consider), but they do choose with whom they create the next generation. I like to think that these two created in Love. But then again, I am biased.

I know many will miss Daddy, and Mother chief among them. I ask that friends and family close by will help watch after her during this time and bring her comfort with an occasional phone call or visit. Just know that even if rebuffed or if she claims it is unnecessary, your show of concern means more than you could ever know. May we all be blessed with parents who love and care for us. For even if they don't quite always get it right, to know you have been loved is essential to becoming all we meant to be.

A visitation for James will be held Tuesday, October 31, 2023 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at Oak Lawn Funeral Home, 619 New Warrington Road, Pensacola, FL 32506. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, October 31, 2023 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM, 619 New Warrington Road, Pensacola, FL 32506. A committal service will occur Tuesday, October 31, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Barrancas National Cemetery, 1 Cemetery Road, Pensacola, FL 32508.

Serving as pallbearers are Taylor Gibson, Phil Fiorilli, Bradon Mothershed, Michael Chavers, Chad Gibson and Bill Mothershed.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.oaklawnfunerals.com for the Gibson Jr. family.