Gordon Leroy Gibbs

Gordon LeRoy Gibbs, 80 of Rexburg, Idaho passed away Monday, June 17, 2013 at his home, after a courageous battle with cancer. Gordon was born on May 18th 1933 in Ogden, Utah, the oldest of seven children to Elvoid Leroy Gibbs and Lucille Elizabeth Anderson Gibbs. He was raised in Portage, Utah until the age of 14 when the family moved to Mackay, Idaho. He graduated from Mackay High School in 1951. He attended Utah State University from 1951 until 1953; he then joined the US Air Force and served until 1957. While he was in the Air Force his family moved to Wendell, Idaho. Upon his return, he met what he said was "the best thing that ever happened to him", Barbara Smith. They married in the Fall of 1958 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple and are the parents of 4 children. Gordon received his Masters Degree in Animal Science and Agriculture Education from Cal Poly University in San Louis Obispo, California in 1962. Gordon taught at Cal Poly for 4 years, and for 7 years at Tracy High School Vocational Program. He retired from Ricks College after 21 years of teaching, and served as Department Chairman for 13 of those years. Gordon cherished the association with faculty members and especially his students. Gordon was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served in various callings including Bishop or Counselor in a Bishopric for more than 25 years. He and Barbara also served 2 missions for the church. Gordon was a man of high moral character who valued hard work and loved life. His family was his number one priority and he enjoyed supporting his children and grandchildren in everything they did. He grew up around horses and livestock and loved agriculture. He took pride in all he did and could find common ground with everyone he met. He became a master of woodworking after retirement. Gordon is survived by his wife Barbara Gibbs, of Rexburg; children, Renell (Allen) Burnham of Idaho Falls, Steven Gibbs of Rexburg, Jennifer (Barry) Kofford of Great Falls, Montana, JoEllen (Dan) Bramwell of Dubois; 9 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren; siblings, Yolanda (Alvin) Gunderson of Idaho Falls, Sonya Kennedy of Livermore, California, Paul (Earlene) Gibbs of Bellevue, Idaho, Helen (Kirk) Birge of Star, Idaho and Carl (Debbie) Gibbs of Wendell, Idaho. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Jim Gibbs, brother-in-law, Randall Kennedy and son-in-law, Bruce Roberts. Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday June 22, 2013 at the Rexburg South Stake Center, 2041 W. 5200 S. Rexburg. Visitation for family and friends will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Friday June 21st at Eckersell Funeral Home, 101 W. Main Street, Rigby and from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. prior to services at the Stake Center. Burial will be in the Sutton Cemetery in Archer, Idaho. Memorial contributions may be made to the LDS Missionary Fund.