Leota Gibbs

Leota Gibbs,  88, of Hereford, died on January 4, 2009, at Hereford Regional Medical Center in Hereford.

Funeral services were under the direction of Parkside Chapel Funeral Home of Hereford, and were held at 2 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009, at the First Baptist Church in Hereford with the Rev. Kyle Streun officiating. Interment followed at West Park Cemetery in Hereford.

Mrs. Gibbs was born July 7, 1920, in Childress, the daughter of Monte and Hattie Lee Nivens. She married Frederick “Ned” Gibbs on Dec. 22, 1958, in Canyon. Leota worked as a bookkeeper for Caviness Packing and The Service Company until her retirement in 1995. Before her career as a bookkeeper, Mrs. Gibbs was a TWA Flight Attendant who was afraid to fly. Mrs. Gibbs liked to crochet in her spare time. Her grandkids could do no wrong in her eyes.

Survivors include one son, Leon Gibbs and wife, Nita of Amarillo; one daughter, Jeannie Owens and husband, Mike of Clarendon; three granddaughters, Kim Dawson and husband Mike of Hereford, Kristal Hooten and Husband Robbie of Carrizozo, N.M., and Leslie Walthall and husband John of Seattle, Wash.; ten grandsons, Monte Cochran and wife Penny of Hereford, Kyle Hill and wife Barbara of Clarendon, Kelly Hill and wife Linda of Clarendon, Marty Gibbs and wife Cindy of Austin, Mark Gibbs and wife Evelyn of Lubbock, Matt Gibbs and wife Jody of Austin, Brian Gibbs and wife Candy of Bushland, Neal Gibbs and wife Jody of Plano, Jeff King and wife Heather of Clarendon, and Wade King and wife Cam of N.C.; ten great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ned Gibbs; two sons, Ronnie Hill and Milton Gibbs; one daughter Barbara Hill Cochran; three brothers, Delba Nivens, Doyle Nivens, and Bill Nivens.

The family suggests memorials to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, 600 W. 11th, Amarillo, TX 79101.