William W. "Bill" Gibson

Bill was born Jan. 7, 1928, in Casper, Wyo., to Esther King and Joseph Cornell

Gibson and grew up on a ranch about 60 miles south of there. After graduating

from high school in Casper, and serving two years as an aerial gunner in the

U.S. Navy, he graduated in 1952 from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor

of science degree in geology.

After graduation, he joined Magnolia Petroleum Co., which merged with Mobil Oil

Corp. in 1960. His work included assignments in Lakes Charles and Morgan

City, La., Dallas and Midland, Wichita, Ks., Oklahoma City, Ok., and Casper,

Wyo. He also worked in Tunisia.

In 1982 he joined Delta Drilling Co. in Tyler as its exploration manager,

remaining there until 1986 when in joined Axem Resources in Denver, CO in the same

position. In 1989, he returned to Tyler and joined DEXPRO as exploration

manager.

Bill married Jewell Richmond of Morgan City, La., in 1955. She died in 1996. He

married Frances Cowan, who survives him, in 1998.

Bill had a great sense of humor and enjoyed gardening, reading, computers.

carpentry, opera, symphony, travel and tales of Wyoming. He attended First

Presbyterian Church in Tyler. He was a 50-year member of the American

Association of Petroleum Geologists.

In addition to his wife, Frances Cowan Gibson of Tyler, Bill is survived by his

daughter and son-in-law, Lisa Gibson and Larry Barnes of Santa Rosa, Calif.; a

cousin, Ruth Higgins of Casper, Wyo.; step-children, Camilla Cowan, Don Cowan and wife, Teri, and Susan Kaiser and husband Steve, all of Dallas, numerous nieces and nephews, step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

A memorial service for Bill is scheduled for Friday, January 7th at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church.

Contributions in his memory may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 230 W. Rusk, Tyler, 75701, Tyler Day Nursery, 2901 W. Gentry Pkwy., Tyler, 75702 or University of Texas at Tyler, office of University Advancement, 3900 University Blvd., Tyler, 75799.

The family wishes to thank Bill's many caregivers during his long illness.