Obituary for Dorsey Willard Gibson Jr.
Dorsey Willard Gibson, Jr., 91, died at home, surrounded by loved ones, in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Monday, February 13, 2023. Dorsey was a man of strong character and was loved by those who knew him.
Dorsey was born on January 4, 1932, to Dorsey Willard Gibson Sr. and Mary May in Madill, Oklahoma. He married Nancy Pitts on March 5, 1955, at the First United Methodist Church in Stillwater, Oklahoma. They were married until her death on May 25, 2002. He later married Mary Ann Wagner on October 11, 2006 at the First Christian Church in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Dorsey graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1950, where he received the Outstanding Athlete Award. Upon graduation, he attended Oklahoma Military Academy and then transferred Oklahoma A&M (Oklahoma State University), where he received a football scholarship. He played both offense and defense and was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference Team. His most memorable play was when he ran 97-yards from scrimmage for a touchdown, defeating Houston in 1954. Dorsey was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, active in ROTC, and taught Sunday School while attending college. He graduated in 1954 with a degree in military science. After graduation, Dorsey served in the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia where he continued to play football in the Army.
Dorsey had two careers that he loved - coaching football and selling fishing tackle. His first coaching position was the freshman football coach for Oklahoma A&M. He went on to be a defensive back coach at the University of Alabama for two seasons and then returned to Oklahoma where he was the head football coach at Miami Senior High School. He was offered a position as the running back coach for Oklahoma State and coached under Cliff Speegle for three years.
He worked for Wright & McGill Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle as a sales representative for 45 years. His favorite part of his job was serving the small bait and tackle shops throughout his territory which included Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. He was named National Salesman of the Year many times.
Dorsey was an outdoorsman from when he was a little boy until he was in his 80s. Growing up in Madill, Oklahoma he loved exploring the Red River, Washita River and nearby creeks, searching for the best fishing holes and hunting rabbits and squirrels. Dorsey owned hound dogs throughout his life and his favorite dog was his last dog, Skyler. He was a hard worker, delivering papers in Tulsa in the 6th and 7th grade. He liked to throw papers while running from house to house.
Dorsey's life was enriched by his many hobbies. He loved to boat and fish, especially at Lake Texoma and Lake Carl Blackwell. He spent many hours tying beautiful fishing flies and studying the Bible. He enjoyed watching his children play sports and was a fan of the Oklahoma State Cowgirls women's basketball team for many decades. Dorsey loved telling stories of his adventures, including ghost stories, to his children and grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by both of his parents and his first wife, Nancy Pitts Gibson.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Gibson; daughters Gayle Lynn Gibson, Mary Yeakley (Tom), and son Dorsey Willard Gibson III (Alesa); grandchildren Melissa Yeakley Martin (Matthew), Sarah Yeakley DeMuth (Dillon), Dorsey Willard Gibson IV, and Grant Gardner Gibson; great-grandchildren Henry Thomas Martin and Emma Margaret DeMuth; sister Joan Olsen and her husband Ray Olsen, along with numerous nephews and nieces.
The family would like to thank the many loyal and loving caregivers and Companion Hospice for their outstanding care. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
Strode Funeral Home is responsible for arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Oklahoma State General Scholarship Fund, Women's Basketball Fund, First Christian Church Disciples of Christ or charity of your choice.
Condolences may be sent to the family and an online obituary viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com.
Dorsey was born on January 4, 1932, to Dorsey Willard Gibson Sr. and Mary May in Madill, Oklahoma. He married Nancy Pitts on March 5, 1955, at the First United Methodist Church in Stillwater, Oklahoma. They were married until her death on May 25, 2002. He later married Mary Ann Wagner on October 11, 2006 at the First Christian Church in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Dorsey graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1950, where he received the Outstanding Athlete Award. Upon graduation, he attended Oklahoma Military Academy and then transferred Oklahoma A&M (Oklahoma State University), where he received a football scholarship. He played both offense and defense and was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference Team. His most memorable play was when he ran 97-yards from scrimmage for a touchdown, defeating Houston in 1954. Dorsey was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, active in ROTC, and taught Sunday School while attending college. He graduated in 1954 with a degree in military science. After graduation, Dorsey served in the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia where he continued to play football in the Army.
Dorsey had two careers that he loved - coaching football and selling fishing tackle. His first coaching position was the freshman football coach for Oklahoma A&M. He went on to be a defensive back coach at the University of Alabama for two seasons and then returned to Oklahoma where he was the head football coach at Miami Senior High School. He was offered a position as the running back coach for Oklahoma State and coached under Cliff Speegle for three years.
He worked for Wright & McGill Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle as a sales representative for 45 years. His favorite part of his job was serving the small bait and tackle shops throughout his territory which included Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. He was named National Salesman of the Year many times.
Dorsey was an outdoorsman from when he was a little boy until he was in his 80s. Growing up in Madill, Oklahoma he loved exploring the Red River, Washita River and nearby creeks, searching for the best fishing holes and hunting rabbits and squirrels. Dorsey owned hound dogs throughout his life and his favorite dog was his last dog, Skyler. He was a hard worker, delivering papers in Tulsa in the 6th and 7th grade. He liked to throw papers while running from house to house.
Dorsey's life was enriched by his many hobbies. He loved to boat and fish, especially at Lake Texoma and Lake Carl Blackwell. He spent many hours tying beautiful fishing flies and studying the Bible. He enjoyed watching his children play sports and was a fan of the Oklahoma State Cowgirls women's basketball team for many decades. Dorsey loved telling stories of his adventures, including ghost stories, to his children and grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by both of his parents and his first wife, Nancy Pitts Gibson.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Gibson; daughters Gayle Lynn Gibson, Mary Yeakley (Tom), and son Dorsey Willard Gibson III (Alesa); grandchildren Melissa Yeakley Martin (Matthew), Sarah Yeakley DeMuth (Dillon), Dorsey Willard Gibson IV, and Grant Gardner Gibson; great-grandchildren Henry Thomas Martin and Emma Margaret DeMuth; sister Joan Olsen and her husband Ray Olsen, along with numerous nephews and nieces.
The family would like to thank the many loyal and loving caregivers and Companion Hospice for their outstanding care. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
Strode Funeral Home is responsible for arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Oklahoma State General Scholarship Fund, Women's Basketball Fund, First Christian Church Disciples of Christ or charity of your choice.
Condolences may be sent to the family and an online obituary viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com