Sue Gibbs, 80 of Detroit, born on February 9, 1944 passed away November 7, 2024.
The family of Sue Gibbs will celebrate her life and legacy at Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home in Paris, Texas. Sue passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on November 7th, 2024 after sustaining injuries she could not recover from in a vehicle accident two days before. The family wants to thank the amazing team of first responders, care flight crew, and the doctors and nurses and hospital team that came together that gave us time to gather around her with love and grace.
The family will be receiving visitors at Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home on Thursday, November 14th from 5-7:00 pm. The family will host a traditional service at Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home on Friday, November 15th at 10:00 am.
After the service, Sue will be buried on her family’s property in the Midway community of Red River County. Because Sweet Sue is the reason this cemetery is being founded by the family, and simply because there is no place yet to park cars and host the amount of people at her funeral, we humbly ask for your understanding that her burial be attended by family only.
Sue was always full of energy and was a godly woman who not only lived the length of her life, but the depth of it as well. Sue was born February 9, 1944 in Deport, Texas to Alvis Glen “A.G.” and Doris (Eudy) Ballard. She had an older brother, Norris, and two younger sisters, Kay and Lou. Of the four siblings, one was quite, one was sweet, one was bossy, and one was talkative, but you have to figure out who was who.
Sue grew up on the Ballard family farm near Clardy in Lamar County, Texas. In her childhood years, their family had cattle, pigs and chickens. Sue vividly remembered reaching into the higher areas of the chicken coop to collect the eggs, and grabbing hold of a chicken snake instead of an egg. After that experience, she decided to LOOK under the hens before she collected the eggs. Sue had fond memories of the farm animals having babies and helping with all the animals. Each fall, school started early in the year and then let out for three weeks so everyone could help pick cotton. Sue and her brother and sisters would spend those three weeks lugging burlap sacks up and down the cotton rows, picking cotton until all the harvest was finished. Sue also spent a lot of time in the hay meadow, she was A.G.’s top rake hand.
In 1964, Sue married Delma Gibbs and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary earlier this year. Her granddaughter Sara made their 60th anniversary cake, complete with Texas bluebonnets and yellow roses. Over these 60 years, Delma & Sue had four children, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Sue was part of the church family at the Fulbright Church of Christ where she was in a solid third place of complaining how cold the AC was in the summer. After sufficiently complaining about the thermostat, she found many ways to serve the Lord every day. On Sundays, she would chime in during class and help her preacher, who just happened to be her son-in-law, remember all the important points he may have forgot to mention. Joking aside, her knowledge of the scriptures encouraged others, and everyone loved having her in the church.
A friend to many, she was cherished by everyone who knew her. She leaves behind a legacy she built through treating others the way she would want to be treated, showing kindness and compassion to practically everyone who crossed her path. She was genuinely concerned about those she loved and found ways to help. Not just a few people here and there, she found ways to help nearly everyone she met. Sometimes it was a hug, an empathizing ear, a few sound words of advice – that were usually words of wisdom from the bible – spoken in her own way that were sincere and straight from her heart.
Sue was a MacGyver of the kitchen. No matter what was in the pantry, even it had been a while since she had been to town for groceries and the options were limited, that didn’t matter…she prepared amazing meals that had her family and guests asking for seconds. When her children got off the school bus in the afternoons, there was nothing better than smelling some hot brownies or oatmeal cookies coming out of the oven. Sue vehemently opposed expiration dates on food items. Who was the food industry to determine when something was good or bad when she could open a jar and give it the sniff test. Some of her children admired her for this uncanny ability and even take after her, and some flat out detest it, but either way, no one could argue about the splendid meals she concocted, and we all loved her and her cooking dearly.
She was a wise woman who ran her own firewood business and even let her husband, Delma, work for her from time to time. If Delma ever paused to take a nap, or take too long on his lunch break, she was quick to crack that whip and get him back in line. Sue learned a lot about cattle from her Daddy, A.G., but even more importantly, she learned a lot about managing her husband from her Mama, Doris. If you are fortunate enough to have lived near Sue in her 80 years on this world, then you are also fortunate enough to have likely witnessed this yourself!
Sue will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 60 years, Delma, four children, Della Blanton and husband Jeff, Danita Gonzales and husband Mike, Joe Gibbs and wife Teresa, and David Gibbs, as well as her sister Lou Shelton and husband Richard. Sue has eight grandchildren that she adored, Jacob, Samuel and Weston Blanton; Scott, Shane and Stephen Gonzales; and Sara and Canyon Gibbs.
Passing before her were her parents, A.G. and Doris Ballard, her brother Norris Ballard and sister Kay Hancock. Sue was loved by her sister-in-law Elaine Ballard and brother-in-law Danny Hancock, who Sue adored and often expressed her love for these sweet people and how well they treated her siblings. Sue is also survived by her sister-in-law Venita Jo Oldfield Morris, brother-in-law Jakie Gibbs and wife Juanita, and sister-in-law Lovice Preston. She loved her family that she married into and often said her in-laws felt just like brothers and sisters to her, and that she would have such a hard time if she ever lost any of them.
While Sue had many strengths and passions, a green-thumb was not one of her strong suits. While she wanted to keep plants alive, she had more pressing things to do than making sure plants were nurtured. Maybe this is part of the reason she expressed that instead of flowers at her funeral, she wanted to support Christian children’s homes. Sue was heart-broken when children lost their parents in this world for whatever reason, or simply had bad parents. Maybe this is why Sue was such a good mother, because she just couldn’t stand it to think of anyone without a loving, nurturing, SAFE home with parents that were loving and caring. Sue was always concerned that she hadn’t done enough for her children. Recently, when she expressed that concern, she was told, “Mom, you are carrying a burden that you have put on yourself, but NO ONE around you, including all of your children, have ever thought you haven’t done enough.” It’s not what a parent can provide for their children, but what a parent can teach their children to do for themselves that is most important. Once Sweet Sue reflected on that for a bit, she let go of that worrisome burden she had put on herself, and we are thankful she didn’t carry that to her grave. Because of her big heart and love for children, she has asked instead of flowers at her funeral, to PLEASE donate to a Christian children’s home. If you have one of your choosing, great, and if not, here are two you can choose from.
Sunny Glen Children’s Home provides a nurturing environment for children in need, offering compassionate care and support. Their comprehensive programs encompass residential services, foster care, and adoption assistance in the goal that every child receives the love and stability they deserve.
Mountain States Children’s Home helps families in crisis, specifically for children who have experienced emotional trauma and behavioral issues resulting from abuse, neglect and abandonment. If you choose to donate to this organization, you can enter “In Memory of Sue Gibbs” in the Organization Name field.
We thank you for your love you have shown our Sweet Sue over the years. She thrived most when interacting with people she loved and cared for. We will leave you with one of her favorite scriptures.
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
Online condolences may be sent to the Gibbs family by visiting www.fry-gibbs.com
