TAMA-Ella Mae (Reben) Gibson, 79, of Tama, passed peacefully Saturday, April 9, 2011 at her home under the care of Hospice of Mercy. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 10:30 AM at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Tama with Pastor John Janke officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Tama. Visitation will be held Tuesday, April 12, 2011 from 4-7 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.
Ella Mae was born November 3, 1931, in Rosetta, Arkansas, the daughter of Emmett and Lora (Smith) Reben. In 1937, the family moved from Arkansas to Iowa. Ella Mae attended rural schools through the 8th grade and graduated from Tama High School in May 1949. Ella Mae graduated from Evangelical School of Nursing, Marshalltown, Iowa in May 1952. She was employed as a Medical-Surgical nurse, operating room nurse and office nurse for a surgeon until marriage.
On February 22, 1959, Ella Mae was united in marriage to Wayne Gibson. The family operated a dairy farm for twenty-nine years. Ella Mae was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Tama. She was active in church, school and community activities, taught church school classes for thirty years, was active in Nursing Associations, Tama County Dairy Association, Ayrshire Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Adult Group and served on the Tama County Extension Council.
She was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents; and one sister and brother-in-law, Wilma and Malvin Zika.
Ella Mae is survived by her husband of fifty-two years, Wayne; six children, Elaine Gibson of Tama, Linda Gibson of Texas, Nancy Gibson of Texas, Gary (Jennifer) Gibson and granddaughter Emily of Texas, Joyce (Cal) Klopp of Davenport, Sandra (Kevin) Burton and granddaughter Tori of Grimes; one brother, Emmett Jr. (Carolyn) Reben of Pleasant Hill; one sister, Loretta (Bill) Evans of Ohio; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.