Elman Gibbs

MORLEY, Mo. -- Elman William Gibbs of Morley died Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, at the age of 87.

Elman was born July 6, 1921, in Zalma, Mo., son of John William "Bill" and Lillie Venita Cullins Gibbs.

He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1939 to September 1941. He was then drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served as a surgeon technician in the Southern France-Rhineland campaigns until November 1945 when he was discharged. He was awarded two Bronze Stars and a Good Conduct Medal.

After returning from service he worked for Himmelberger-Harrison. In 1951 he went to work for Missouri State Highway Department, later becoming maintenance foreman of the Morley Shed, from which he retired in 1976 after 25 years of service.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothy Mae Forister Gibbs; two brothers; and a sister.

He leaves behind two daughters, Deborah (Roy) Gunter of Benton, Mo., Sara (Keith) Curd of Chaffee, Mo.; three grandsons, Christopher and Jeremy Gunter of Cape Girardeau, John Curd of Chaffee; a sister, Venita "Polly" Brown of Porterville, Calif.; two brothers, Byron (Ann) Gibbs of Hemet, Calif., Harold (Linda) Gibbs of Everett, Wash.; nine nephews; 10 nieces; and several great and great-great-nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Benton.

Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at New Morley Cemetery in Morley, with Steve Francis officiating. Full graveside military funeral honors will be conducted.

Pallbearers are Henry Daniels, Carl Pease Jr., Chris and Jeremy Gunter, John Curd and Mike Hodgkiss.

Honorary pallbearers are Carl Dial, Carl Christy, Dale Seabaugh, Paul Pool, Elman Becker and Curtis Jackson.