Gary Gibson, age 79, a lifetime Aberdeen resident and noteworthy retired high school English teacher, passed away on Saturday morning, March 27, 2021, of lung cancer, at Puget Sound Skilled Nursing in Olympia, Washington.
Gary was born on June 3, 1941 in Almira, Washington, to Lloyt and Leona (Higginbotham) Gibson. Gary’s family moved to Aberdeen, Washington, in 1943. Gary grew up in Aberdeen, was active in Boy Scouts and became an Eagle Scout (’57), attended Weatherwax (Aberdeen) High School (‘59), and Grays Harbor College (’61). In 1965 he graduated from Washington State University (’65) with a bachelor of arts in social studies, English and education.
In 1965, Gary began his teaching career at Weatherwax (Aberdeen) High School. Throughout his 27 years of teaching, Gary taught English and Language Arts, Journalism, Creative Writing, and Psychology to more than 3,000 students. Additionally, he developed and taught classes for Junior Honors English and Senior College Prep Writing. He also coached boys’ and girls’ tennis for 20 and 9 years, respectively.
Gary’s main objective was to teach and counsel students to achieve their goals and to encourage them to succeed beyond their expectations. Gary was a brilliant teacher, who developed an effective process to help students become better writers. Most importantly, he helped them find their inner voices so they could better express their thoughts and feelings through writing. Many a student and parent thanked him for helping them with their later achievements in college and military academies.
As advisor to the high school newspaper from 1974 until his retirement in 1993, it is noteworthy that his students received over 455 state, regional and national awards. These include two All-American National Awards, three All-Columbian Awards and a George H. Gallop Award for “Distinctive Achievement in Scholastic Journalism,” Quill and Scroll, 1986.
Gary was also involved in state and national organizations. He was an instructor at Washington Journalism Education Association’s summer workshops; a speaker and judge at Journalism Education Associations’ national conferences and contests and President Washington Journalism Education Association. He also helped develop guidelines for state journalism curriculum and participated in the initial psychology advance placement workshop for teachers.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents Lloyt and Leona Gibson and is survived by brothers Thomas L. of Hoquiam, Washington and Gene A. Gibson (Lisa), of Wallingford, Pennsylvania, a niece Kimberly Gibson(Chance) of Aberdeen and two nephews: Benjamin E. Gibson of Baltimore, Maryland, and Andrew G. Gibson, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
After retirement, Gary cared for his aging parents, enjoyed his many pet dogs especially Brandy and Mikahpooh, as well as researching and writing several novellas and short stories.
There will be no funeral services. Memories and thoughts can be recorded on the Harrison Funeral Home webpage. Gary’s ashes were scattered along Hurricane Ridge per his request.
