Dorothy Gibson

Dorothy Carpenter Gibson died peacefully on 9 November 2010, at the age of 90. She will be remembered as a poet, painter, and literary critic, mother and grandmother. She loved plants, animals and gardening, all reflections of her admiration for things wild and cultivated. She read widely and voraciously, loved learning, studied painting and philosophy, practiced gourmet cooking, spoke Spanish, and taught herself French, Hebrew, and piano. She admired fine art, music, writing, and courage in defense of human rights.
Born in Blanket, Texas on New Year’s Day in 1920, Mrs. Gibson earned a bachelor of arts degree and a teaching certificate in special education at Baylor University. She played Lady MacBeth in Shakespeare’s MacBeth and Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams’ play A Streetcar Named Desire, but she gave up her promising career as an actress in New York in 1946 to raise her children. She directed community theater, taught high school Spanish, and was the only certified speech therapist in the Connally Independent School District for many years. In the latter role, she went beyond the call of duty to provide material assistance to the low-income families of her students.
Mrs. Gibson is survived by two sons John Wheat Gibson IV of Dallas, Paul Breuer Gibson and wife Anne of Waco, and a daughter, Jane Winslow Gibson and husband Jim Carpenter of Lawrence, Kansas. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Todd Gibson, David Gibson, Amanda Molina, and Emily Gunn of Waco; Madeleine Gibson Hensley of Taylor, Texas; Ruth Gibson, Callie Long and Joanie Honea of Lawrence, Kansas; and Abigail Gibson and Jack Gibson of Dallas, and by 27 great grandchildren.
Mrs. Gibson’s husband, John Wheat Gibson III, a veteran of World War II and professor of music at Baylor University, preceded her in death as did her parents, Dovie Ola Ferguson Carpenter and Thomas Mercer Carpenter of Weslaco, Texas, and her brothers Thomas (Tom), Winslow, Kermit (Kelly), Lewis (Dick), and Dale Carpenter.
The family wishes to extend special appreciation to Bluebonnet Hospice, especially Crystal, Gena, Jennifer, Roshonda, Judy, and Stacey, and to Mrs. Gibson’s caregivers at Eden House, Sue, Maria, and Debbie.
A graveside service will be held at Meridian Cemetery in Meridian, Texas on Sunday, November 14, 2010 at 3 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to CODEPINK, a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities.

Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online Guest Book at www.LakeShoreFuneralHome.com.