Obituary: Ellery Gibson, former chair of art department

OBIT gibson

Ellery Gibson, a former chair of the art department at NAU, died April 27, 2010. He was 94.

Dr. Gibson was born Jan. 22, 1916, on a cantaloupe farm in Rocky Ford, Colo., and taught art for 42 years. For 27 of those years, he administered and taught art education, painting and jewelry making at NAU. Upon his retirement in 1981, the Gibsons moved to Sedona, where Dr. Gibson continued to paint. He was a juried member of numerous art organizations and recipient of many awards and prizes.

Dr. Gibson is survived by his wife, Norma; brother Blaine Gibson of Santa Barbara, Calif.; daughters Elaine Paisley (Don Smith) of Oakhurst, Calif., and Julie Ziamal (Alex) of Sedona; stepsons Steve Swann (Tawni) of Boise, Idaho, and Randy Swann (Donna) of Windsor, Colo.; stepdaughters Wendy Lopez (Benito) of Stafford, Va., and Heidi Fry (Stephen) of Alexandria, Ky.; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Maxine Howard Gibson, and daughter Mary Gibson.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 8, at the Sedona Church of the Red Rocks, 54 Bowstring Drive, in Sedona, followed by a reception.

Memorial donations may be made to the Verde Valley Caregivers, P.O. Box 1360, Sedona, AZ 86338. Donations also may be made to the NAU Ellery Gibson Memorial Art Fund— fund number 1611.