Elman Gibbs

MORLEY -- Elman William Gibbs, 87, died Dec. 25, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

Born July 6, 1921, in Zalma, to the late John William "Bill" and Lillie Venita Cullins Gibbs, he served from 1939 to September 1942 in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army where served as a surgeon technician in Southern France and Rhineland Campaign until November 1945. He was awarded two Bronze Stars and a Good Conduct medal.

He first worked at Himmelberger-Harrison and in 1951 he began work with the Missouri State Highway Department where he was the maintenance foreman at Morley, retiring in 1976 after 25 years of service.

He was married to Dorothy Mae Forister Gibbs, who preceded him in death.

Two brothers and one sister also preceded him in death.

He leaves behind two daughters and sons-in-law, Deborah and Roy Gunter of Benton and Sara and Keith Curd of Chaffee; one sister, Venita "Polly" Brown of Porterville, Calif.; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Byron and Ann Gibbs of Hemet, Calif., and Harold and Linda Gibbs of Everett, Wash.; three grandsons, Christopher and Jeremy Gunter of Cape Girardeau and John Curd of Chaffee; nine nephews, 10 nieces and several great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.

Visitation is from 5-8 p.m. Saturday at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Benton. Graveside services with full military rites will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the New Morley Cemetery. Steve Francis, pastor, will officiate.

Pallbearers will be: Henry Daniels, Carl Pease Jr., Chris Gunter, Jeremy Gunter, John Curd and Mike Hodgkiss.

Honorary pallbearers will be: Carl Dial, Carl Christy, Dale Seabaugh, Paul Pool, Elman Becker and Curtis Jackson.

Paid obituary