Betty Jean Gibson

Betty Jean Gibson 11/29/25 - 11/19/21 Our mother, Betty Gibson, passed away peacefully just shy of her 96th birthday, after an active, long-lived and well-loved life. She was born in St. Cloud, FL, the 3rd daughter of Marion (Whitmer) and Carl Cockerill, and raised in Pittsburg, Kansas. Just before her senior year in high school, the family moved to southern California. After graduation, she attended UCLA, then transferred to pre-nursing at UCSF during WWII. Back home after the war, Betty met a USC football player named Bill Gibson who won her heart and hand. They married in 1947 and soon started their family. Daughter Dianne was born in 1949 and Donna followed in 51. With Bills new teaching credential, the young family moved to Visalia, where he taught and coached for 6 years, and where daughter Denise (52) and son Bruce (55) were born. When Bill got a VP position with the Redlands Unified School District, they moved south and made Redlands their home for 47 years. While Bill worked his way up from junior high principal to Superintendent, Betty taught in the nearby San Bernardino Unified School District, helping the family later finance 4 college educations. Betty and Bill were active in the 1st Presbyterian Church choir, the Contemporary Club dance group, Community Service organization, PTAs, the YMCA, bridge groups, and the many sports and activities of their children. While raising her 4 children, Betty continued her education taking night classes through the UC system. She earned her diploma and teaching credential in the 1960s. All 4 of her kids were present at her college graduation that achievement still fills us with pride. Always a wonderful mom and role-model, she welcomed our friends into our home and along on family camping trips. As an empty-nester, Betty continued teaching grades K4 while finding more time to play tennis and win many tournaments in the masters bracket. Bill & Betty wore a path on I-5 as they trekked north in their motor home when their 4 children went to UOP and married and settled in Northern California & Oregon. The family grew to include 3 sons-in-law (Roger Ehlers, Bill Holm & Mark Cook) and a daughter-in-law (Janet Otto) and then 8 grandchildren. A tragedy that haunted Betty thereafter was losing Denise at the age of 28 in a drunk-driving accident, which changed our lives. She became an ardent advocate of MADD. After Bill passed away in 2002, Betty moved to Walnut Creek to be nearer her children. She loved exploring and taking advantage of downtown and socializing with new friends at Heritage Point, especially her active bridge group. Hip surgeries, kidney disease and the restrictions of Covid slowed Betty down her last years, but she continued to be active into her 90s. The warm & loving care of Divine, Merly, Pam, Ben, Bernadette and the wonderful staff at Golden Pond Felipe Care Home in Danville made her last year comfortable. Missing Betty are her loving children, Dianne Ehlers (Roger) of Alamo, CA; Donna Holm of Glide, OR; Bruce Gibson (Janet), of Woodbridge, CA; 8 grandchildren: Ehlers - Catherine (Nate), Christina (Dave), Molly (Ryan); Holm - Charlie (Amber), Billy (Randi), Kristen (Curt) Holm; and Ben & Ali Gibson; 10 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her daughter, Denise Cook (1981), her husband Bill, and her son-in-law Bill Holm. There will be a grand reunion in heaven! Donations can be made in memory of Betty Gibson to the Denise Gibson Cook Campership Fund, c/o Redlands YMCA, 500 Citrus Ave. Rdls, CA 92373, or to the Bill Gibson Scholarship fund (for a high school senior seeking a degree in Education), c/o Redlands Community Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 1683, Rdls, CA 92373, or to the charity of your choice. The family will gather for a private celebration of life in the future when its safe to socialize. Magleby Oak Park Hills Mortuary, Walnut Creek (925) 934-6500 Laid to rest at Hillside Memorial Park, Redlands (909) 798-7569