Fannie Lou Gibson

Fannie Lou (Riddle) Gibson was born June 7, 1929 to parents Harriet Ann (Sikes) Riddle-mother and John Calhoun Riddle-father in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Fannie was 1 of 9 children and grew up in the Tecumseh and Shawnee, Oklahoma area. She graduated from Shawnee High School and received a scholarship to attend Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, Missouri. After 1 year at the Art Institute, Fannie returned to Oklahoma City where she was employed by a professional photography studio. She especially enjoyed photographing family portraits and children's annual school pictures. Fannie and Kenneth W. Gibson Sr. met in Oklahoma City following WW2 after Kenneth was discharged from the US Navy and returned to the Oklahoma City area. One child-Kenneth W. Gibson Jr. was born to their union in 1952. Fannie continued to work as a wife, mother, and photographer while Ken Jr. was young. As Ken Jr. became older, she enjoyed her employment at Gibson's Department store where she was a manager and new product buyer. Fannie and Ken Sr. loved to spend time with family, visiting Ken Jr.'s jobsite projects (Ken was a civil engineer), and loving the 3 grandchildren they were blessed to SPOIL. Fannie was an active member of the North West Baptist church in Oklahoma City and the Order of Eastern Star-Siloam #463. Fannie and Kenneth also enjoyed attending reunions of Kenneth's shipmates. In later years son Ken and wife Cheryl accompanied them to assist with travel. Fannie was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth W. Gibson Sr.; son, Kenneth W. Gibson Jr.; parents, John and Harriet Riddle; her In-laws, Charles and Opal Gibson; 4 sisters, Cleo, Lorine, Arline, and Nina; 3 brothers, John Jr., Calvin, and Robert. Her brother Benjamin (Bennie) Riddle of Bentonville, Arkansas is still living at age 89 yrs young. Other survivors honoring Fannie's life are grandchildren, Kenneth W. Gibson III of Deer Trail, Colorado, Rachelle Otis and husband Jeff of Leigh Acres, Florida, and Daniel Gibson also of Leigh Acres, Florida; Daughter-in-Law, Cheryl Gibson of Denver, Colorado; 3 great-grandchildren, Nathaniel, Haley, and Ashley. Others remembering Fannie are numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. She will be greatly missed. A graveside service is planned for Friday-December 11th, 2:00pm at Memorial Park Cemetery (N. Broadway & Kelley).