The Duncan Banner

Obituaries

Related Photos

  • Olen Dean ‘Skip’ Gibbs

    Olen Dean ‘Skip’ Gibbs
October 10, 2012

Olen Dean ‘Skip’ Gibbs

The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — July 24, 1925 — Oct. 9, 2012

Olen Dean “Skip” Gibbs, 87, long time resident of Duncan, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012 in Duncan.

Skip was born July 24, 1925 in Duncan, to John and Maude (Hudson) Gibbs.

He joined the United States Navy in 1943. He served during World War II as a SeaBee in the South Pacific on the Island of Okinawa. He was a proud and decorated veteran.

He was honorably discharged in 1946 and moved back to Duncan, where he was proud to call home.

Skip worked, managed and owned many restaurants until he started his own produce business in 1961, Tri-City Produce. He sold the produce business in 1979 and retired after 18 years.

During his restaurant years, he fell in love with one of his waitresses, Lora Lavelle Clark.

The two were married April 3, 1947 in Henrietta, Texas. They were blessed with five children. She preceded him in death April 1, 1993. Skip and Lavelle purchased land in Loco, where they spent much time farming and raising of cattle. They enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing, playing dominos and especially spending time with their family.

In his later years, he was fortunate enough to have a second love, Bernice Wade, whom he was reacquainted with through church. They were married in December of 2000. And through this union he was blessed to have been accepted and loved by her family.

Skip gave his life to the Lord on Oct. 5, 1975 at the James Robinson Crusade. He knew immediately the power of God’s love and forgiveness, which he realized the urgency to share it with others.

He was a member of Parkview Baptist Church and the VFW, which he was a lifelong chaplain and former commander.

Skip is survived by his wife, Bernice; son, Rick Gibbs and wife, Cathy, of Winterpark, Fla; daughters, Glenda Matty and husband, Mike, of Duncan, Debbie Travis and husband, Tim, of Marlow; Sheryl Chapman and husband, Larry, of Duncan, and Carla Hall and husband, Greg, of Duncan; grandchildren, Melissa Ferbrache and husband, Jason, of Guthrie, Ron Shipman and wife, JJ, of Duncan, Marci Faulk and husband, Jay, of Graham, Texas, Greg Travis and wife, Dawn, of Duncan, Sarah Malpica and husband, Jonathan, of Winterpark, Fla., Laura Jones and husband, Jason, of Deltona, Fla., Casey Hall and wife, Melody, of Mustang, Clint Chapman and wife, Kara, of Duncan and Kara Hall of Bartlesville; 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Evelyn Byford and husband, Eddie of Duncan; brothers, Carl Gibbs of Duncan and Richard Caudill and wife, Ada, of Duncan and a host of nieces, nephews and in-laws.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife; grandson, Jacob Gibbs; two brothers and a sister.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012 at Parkview Baptist Church, with the Rev. Steve Gillespie officiating, interment will be at Resthaven Memorial Gardens Visitation will be Thursday and Friday. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday at Carter Smart Funeral Home. Services are under the direction of Carter Smart Funeral Home, Duncan.

Military honors will be provided by the Stephens County Honor Guard.

Text Only
Obituaries
  • Thomas C. ‘T.C.’ Hill Thomas C. ‘T.C.’ Hill

    Thomas C. “T.C.” Hill peacefully passed from this life on Friday, May 17, 2013, surrounded by his family. A graveside funeral service, with full military honors, will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 21, at Fairlawn Cemetery with Bro. Randy Southerland officiating under the direction of Comanche Funeral Home. Visitation will be 1-5 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday. The family will be receiving friends from 5-7 p.m. Monday.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Cletis Earl Ball Cletis Earl Ball

     Cletis Earl Ball, 90, passed away Saturday, May 18, 2013, in Duncan.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Tommy Virgil Barker Tommy Virgil Barker

    Thomas Virgil Barker, 69, passed away Wednesday, May 15, 2013, in Duncan.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Steven R. Campbell

    In peace and grace from his Creator, Steven R. Campbell slipped through the veil to rejoin his Creator and those loved ones gone before. This was a transition he had anticipated, examined and understood.

    May 18, 2013

  • Maggie Breath.jpg Maggie Breath

    Maggie Breath of Tatums, was born to Dave and Nellie (Franklin) Plummer on Dec. 17, 1924, in Elmore City, and passed away from this life Tuesday, May 14, 2013, in Oklahoma City, at the age of 88 years.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • 5-17 Charles Turner.jpg Charles Nathan Turner Sr.

    Charles Nathan Turner Sr. was born on June 13, 1979, in Ada, to Harold E. and Tanya G. Garvin Turner. He died on May 13, 2013, in Duncan, at the age of 33. Services with military honors will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 18, in the Whinery-Huddleston Chapel with Dr. Walter Wilson, officiating.

    May 16, 2013 1 Photo

  • 5-16 Dewayne Vaughn bw.jpg Dewayne Frank Vaughn

    Dewayne Frank Vaughn, 55, peacefully passed away from this life on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, in the Oklahoma City Veterans Hospital surrounded by his family.
    Graveside services will be 2 p.m., Friday, May 17, at Bower Cemetery, Bower, with Rev. Stephen Binion and Rev. Arnold Nelson officiating.
    The family will receive friends 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, at the Don Grantham Funeral Home.

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • 5-16 Bill Griffin.jpg Bill Joe Griffin

    Billie Joe “Bill” Griffin passed from this life at the Jefferson County Hospital in Waurika, on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, at the age of 84.
    Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 18, at the First Baptist Church in Waurika with Jeff McLemore officiating.
    He was born Oct. 10, 1928, in Temple, Oklahoma, to Bill and Allene Proctor Griffin.

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • 5-16 Jetta Huey.jpg Jetta Lorine Huey

    Jetta Lorine Huey, 92, former resident of Comanche, passed away on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, at the Wellington Parke Center in Del City.
    Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, May 17, at the Don Grantham Funeral Home Chapel, Duncan. Burial will follow at the Old Velma Cemetery in Velma, under the direction of the Don Grantham Funeral Home.

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • Janice Penrod

    Janice Ruth (Melton) Penrod, 62 years, 7 months and 21 days, of Walters, died Tuesday, May 14, 2013 in Lawton.

    May 15, 2013