April 1957, a nice warm spring day, I was tinkering with an old Atwater Kent radio. Three tuners, headphones and a door on each side of the radio cabinet for batteries. I'd tinkered for awhile and it was getting close to noon. My oldest brother came speeding into the farm in his nice lookin 50 chev with the torpedo body style. With him was his old navy buddy-later to be a brother-in-law-riding along. The old chev slid to a stop and they both ran into the house. The worst news I'd ever encountered had just been delivered. Two other brothers had "gone down" in the swollen backwaters of Little Muddy creek. People were searching for their bodies but as yet they hadn't been found. We were and are, a close family. Seven boys and one girl made up the Gibson family. We now had two less. Bert was 22 and Joe was 24. Both married with little ones at home. Their bodies were found before evening with the help of lots of neighbors. Seems they were hunting ducks with a father and son they were acquainted with. Those folks got out and with their guns! My brothers never got out at all. We won't go into any of that as it's been a long time ago and nothing would be served by bringing up the past. I was in the 5th grade and hadn't missed a day at school yet. I missed the following Monday and Tuesday. Berts wife and kids came and lived with us for awhile until she was settled in her own house. Joe's family moved back home to her folks and she lived there until her folks died. Terrible days and nights of almost unbelieveable and uncontrollable pain and misery were commonplace at the old farm house. Then in Sept. 1972 the death angel struck again. This time my only younger brother Frank, was killed instantly in a contruction accident at the Olney Central College in Olney Illinois. He was an Air Force vet that hadn't been home too long when this construction job came up. Pouring crete on the 3rd floor and the boom of the crete pumper fell hitting him on the right side of his head and right shoulder. It took 60 men to get it off him. Wife and I were living away then, I was a cop in Vandalia, IL when I received the news. Another period of almost uncontrollable pain and heartache. Only by the Grace of Almighty God did we Gibson's make it through. I saw my old daddy just get deeper and deeper into his faith--pulling all the Love and Grace of God to endure this terrible pain. Mom was right beside him during this also. Dad died in January of 83, doing what he had wanted to do. Stacking firewood for another brother of mine. Pappy wrote about going from "here to there" settin in the shade in an old lawn chair. He did just exactly that. God let him go as he had requested. Brothers and Pap are all buried at the Church cemetary of Freedom Baptist Church north of Noble, IL. Mom is still alive at 87. This is just some of the things that happened to the Gibson family, in rural Illinois. This is also why I preach--ALL my brothers and pappy are waiting and walking the streets of pure gold!

-- hoot gibson (hoot@otbnet.com), June 17, 2000

Answers

Hoot, what a sad story. Your family has really been through a lot. I'm glad your faith has helped you pull through. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), June 17, 2000.

Oh Hoot, that brought tears to my eyes when I first read it. Thought about it some today before I responded. I sure am glad your sisters in law had families they could go after this happened. I haven't experienced the death of anyone close. I sure dont look forward to it. I'm sorry that your family had to have this happen. Did your brother's children end up OK?

-- Denise (jphammock@earthlink.net), June 17, 2000.