Lois Elaine Gibbs

Lois Elaine Gibbs ~  September 25, 1927 – October 27, 2021

On Wednesday, October 27, 2021, Lois Elaine Gibbs passed away peacefully to begin her heavenly life.  She was 94.  On September 25, 1927, Lois was born in Independence, Missouri, to the Rev. Alvin G. Hause and Bertha Jane Hunter Hause. She was the youngest of 4 children and the only girl.  She was loved and protected by her three brothers, Truett, Dwight, and David Hause.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, husbands John H. Boyle and Richard D. Gibbs, and stepson Scott Gibbs.  Survivors include her children and stepchildren John David Boyle, Kathy Boyle-Gast (David), Mark Gibbs (Phyllis), Gayle Gibbs Callis (Danny), Lynn Gibbs McClelland (Scott Neely), 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Grandchildren include Kelly Gast Moore (Josh), Andrea Hunter Gast (Adam Wilkinson), Kelly Gibbs Bateman (Jaime), Davy Gibbs (Lauren Knowlton), Wesley McClelland (Patricia), Lyndsey McClelland (Daniel Perez),

Heather Callis Draime (Jason Draime), Casey Callis (Kolby Carpenter).

Great Grandchildren include Aiden and Natalie Bateman, Finn Gibbs and Zelda Knowlton, Trenton and Summit McClelland, Hayden and Mason Draime, Evan Elizabeth Moore, Emerson Guy Wilkinson.

Lois grew up in Independence, Missouri, and was always deeply involved in the church.  In fact, she started her choir singing career at the age of 5, and from that point forward was passionate about music and singing.  As she grew up, her voice came to be extremely melodic and beautiful.  Growing up in the Hause household, there was always loads of activity, involvement in sports or other church and school-related clubs and projects and the never-ending antics with her three brothers, including running a gas station at the bottom of the hill from their home in Independence.  In addition, her Irish heritage (O’Donovan, McGuinness and Scot-Irish Hunter) was always a thread running through her mother’s parenting and sayings, not to mention her quick wit and wonderful sense of humor!  As a result, Lois traveled to Ireland on more than a few occasions in her “Golden” years, and always took pride and enjoyment in her lineage.

Throughout her life, Lois was involved in music through singing in a number of ways, but none was more important to her as her church choir participation. Her church life was always abundant and she took on many positions in the church, including holding many committee positions and teaching Sunday School anywhere from Kindergarten to Senior Adults.  In addition to this, Lois was an amazing gardener, getting it naturally from her mom, Bertha Hunter Hause. Like many who grew up in the Great Depression and experienced WWII first-hand, Lois was taught how to do without, carry on and love life regardless. She truly was one who could actually squeeze blood out of that proverbial turnip.

During her early adult life, Lois lived in Philadelphia (joined Temple Baptist Church) and Kansas City (Wornall Road Baptist Church).  In 1954, her young family moved to Louisville, Kentucky (Broadway Baptist Church) where she lived for a total of 46 years.  Initially, she dabbled in some modeling but also developed and taught “Charm classes” for Southern Baptist Theological Seminary wives of students preparing for the ministry.  In 1977 Lois was hired as the Director of the Fashion Merchandising School of Spencerian College until December 1988, when she retired and married Dick Gibbs and moved to Hendersonville, Tennessee.  Much traveling took place during these years, and the world was explored with great gusto (including a number of camping trips all over the southeast in particular.  After Dick’s death (1996), Lois moved to Athens, Georgia, in the year 2000 where one of her daughters lived.

Just as in all other locations, Lois immediately found a home church (First Baptist Church Athens) and joined the choir.   Within a few months, she had completed the Athens Senior Leadership Academy (2001) and got involved in many other community activities, such as singing with the Athens Choral Society, the Athens Symphony Orchestra Choir, and also was involved in the Athens Community Council on Aging, and the Stephens Ministry, among other things.  Lois spent the last nearly 21 years of her life immersed in the Athens community.   Throughout her life, the family came first, and she adored her grandchildren and more recently her great-grandchildren.

If one word could possibly describe Lois, it would be “active”.  Her life roles included daughter (preacher’s kid), sister, cousin, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, music lover, singer and choir member, model, gardener, volunteer, leader, organizer, taskmaster, teacher, writer, mentor, traveler, water skier, swimmer, bowler, card shark, game player extraordinaire, and more!  Lois was passionate about life, music, flowers and loved to be busy. She was devoted to her religion and church life, intelligent, loyal, beautiful, generous, loving, practical, frugal, humorous, feisty, competitive, forgiving, adventuresome, forthright and independent to the end. Words cannot describe how much she will be missed.

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 14, at First Baptist Church Athens, followed by family visitation until 4:30. Due to a number of immune-compromised individuals likely to be present, masks will be required in the church at all times, including during the service and at visitation except when eating or drinking.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church Athens Music Fund, 355 Pulaski St. Athens, GA 30601;  Athens Area Habitat for Humanity,  532 Barber St. Building 1, Athens, GA 30601; or Athens Community Council on Aging, 135 Hoyt St. Athens, GA 30601

We want to express our gratitude to the staff at Orchard at Athens as well as our personal caregivers for their untiring and compassionate care for Lois, especially during these past 5 months.  Prior to that, Home Instead caregiver Anne Moremen was a devoted and fabulous companion and friend to Lois for nearly 6 years. “Thank you” does not suffice for our utmost appreciation for all of you!

Farewell, Momma.  You will always be with us in spirit.

I ndídean Dé go raibh sí.   Irish for:  May she rest in God’s protection.