GIBSON, Ellery

Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, Arizona Friday, April 30, 2010 Ellery Gibson, 94, of Sedona, died April 27, 2010. He was born Jan. 22, 1916, on a cantaloupe farm in Rocky Ford, Colo. Mr. Gibson was an art teacher for 42 years. For 27 of those years, he administered and taught art education, painting and jewelry making at NAU. Upon his retirement in 1981, the Gibsons moved to Sedona, where Mr. Gibson continued to paint. He was a juried member of numerous art organizations and recipient of many awards and prizes. Mr. Gibson is survived by his wife, Norma; brother Blaine Gibson of Santa Barbara, Calif.; daughters Elaine Paisley (Don Smith) of Oakhurst, Calif., and Julie Ziamal (Alex) of Sedona; stepsons Steve Swann (Tawni) of Boise, Idaho, and Randy Swann (Donna) of Windsor, Colo.; stepdaughters Wendy Lopez (Benito) of Stafford, Va., and Heidi Fry (Stephen) of Alexandria, Ky.; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Maxine Howard Gibson, and daughter Mary Gibson. A memorial service will be Saturday, May 8, at 11 a.m. at the Sedona Church of the Redrocks, 54 Bowstring Drive, in Sedona, followed by a reception. The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Verde Valley Caregiers, P.O. Box 1360, Sedona, AZ 86338.