Obituary of Billie Ruth Gibson

Billie Ruth Allen Gibson, 80, of Clewiston, passed away early Friday morning, January 8, 2021 at Palms West Hospital. She was born May 27, 1940 in Fort Myers, Florida the youngest of 7 siblings. Billie Ruth grew up in Felda with her parents Hattie Evelyn and Myrton Otis Allen. She was educated in a one room schoolhouse in Felda until being bussed to LaBelle for high school graduating in 1958. She earned a teaching degree at Florida State University where she met and married William Edwards Davies in October 1960. After a several years leading elementary classes in Immokalee, Denver, Bayshore and LaBelle, Billie Ruth spent most of her career teaching social studies at LaBelle Middle School. In LaBelle she was a member of Church of the Good Shepherd and the Beta Sigma Phi sorority. She wed William Gibson in 1987 and moved with him to Clewiston in 2004 to help care for her grandchildren. She served as secretary of the Clewiston Garden Club and was a member of St. Martin's Episcopal Church. Billie Ruth had a lifelong love of reading and history. She loved gathering with family and friends to play games and tell stories. Her children were raised with Mom telling stories of historical figures as if they were family members. Each child was assigned a favorite birthday meal of Mom's choosing. Each grandchild shared a favorite musical or literary movie with their Nanny. She was a wonderful and loving Nanny. Her marvelous storytelling will be long remembered, and her ready laugh will not be forgotten. Billie Ruth was predeceased by parents Hattie Evelyn Goff and Myrton Otis Allen, brothers Carl Wayne Allen, Jack Douglas Allen, James Edsel Allen, and Myrton Otis Allen, Jr., sisters Daisy Emma Parsons, and Glenda May Allison. She is survived by her husband William Ollie Gibson of the home, son William Allen Davies (wife Mistie) in Titusville, FL; daughters Jane Sadette Davies Purcell (husband Darren) of Norman, OK; and Laura Beth Davies Jones (husband Scott) of Clewiston, stepsons Brian Keith Gibson, and William Kevin Gibson, grandchildren Elisabeth Jane Palmer, Ryan Michael Palmer, William Evans Davies, Emma Kaitlin Davies, Bruce Franklyn Jones, Evelyn Kay Jones, and Leslie Nicole Jones, and step-grandchildren Victor William Engel (wife Anne), Frances Renee Rios (husband Rolando), William Kale Gibson, Justin Cade Gibson, Aubrey Nicole Thompson, Dylan Thompson, Robert Edward Purcell, and Ethan Michael Purcell, and many cousins, nieces, nephews. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic a Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by Akin-Davis Funeral Home.