Obituary of Frank N Gibson

Frank Newton Gibson, Jr Obituary Surrounded by loved ones, Frank N. Gibson, Jr, former resident of Alligator Point, FL passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 11, 2025, in Olympia, WA. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, favorite uncle, and good friend to many. He was a good man who lived a life filled with faith, kindness, and concern for others, a true Southern gentleman. In his younger years, he loved hunting and fishing and always had concern for the protection of the environment. He was abundantly curious and took immense pleasure in connecting with friends and family to find out how everyone was doing and share an interesting story. Frank was born at home on May 24, 1927, in Brooksville, FL. He was the oldest of five, born to the late Susie Ramsey Gibson and Frank N. Gibson, Sr. In his early days, he enjoyed spending time on the farm with his paternal grandparents where he learned many valuable life lessons about growing a garden, caring for livestock and how to make or fix anything using ingenuity and random parts from something else. He attended Hernando High School and was the center on the football team. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1944, and served on the USS Brownson, DD-868, in the North Atlantic at the end of WWII. He was one of the first lucky men to attend Florida State University, arriving as part of the Tallahassee Branch of the University of Florida at the Florida State College for Women. In addition to helping establish the University alma mater, colors and selecting the Seminole as the athletics symbol, Frank met the love of his life, Juanita B. Hanson. Frank graduated from FSU in May 1951 and married Juanita in June. They lived in Tallahassee for several years where she taught school and he worked for the Florida Forest Service. Taking a position with the United States Brewers Association required a move to Winter Park, FL where they raised their young family until 1971. Frank was a hard-working public relations representative for the USBA for 30 years, requiring moves to Missouri and Virginia while rising to the position of Vice President. In 1991, he and Juanita retired to Alligator Point, FL - the “beach they courted on” where they remained until 2017. His final years were spent in Olympia, WA with support and care from his daughter and daughter-in-law. Frank is survived by his children Terence D. Gibson (Pam), Tallahassee, FL and Rebecca L. Gibson (Beth Wilder) Olympia, WA. Granddaughter Tracie Manrique, Pensacola, FL and Great Granddaughter Morgan Manrique, Tallahassee, FL. Also surviving are his sisters Cleo Cole, Jacksonville, FL and Marcy Lewis, Warner Robbins, GA and brother-in-law Henry G. Hanson, Crawfordville, FL. Many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and great, great nieces and nephews also survive him. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 66 years, Juanita H. Gibson; brother-in-law Norvel L. Cole, Jacksonville, FL; brother and sister-in-law William D. Gibson and Evelyn Arick, Brooksville, FL; sister and brother-in-law Morita E. and Marvin S. Smiley, Weeki Wachee,FL; and sister-in-law Ann P. Hanson, Tallahassee, FL. In October, Frank said: “It is only fitting that the romance that began in the red hills is laid to rest in the red hills.” And so it is that Frank and Juanita will be laid to rest at Tallahassee National Cemetery, 5015 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee, FL on May 29, 2026, at 2:00PM. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Mission By The Sea, 772 Alligator Dr., Alligator Point, FL 32346, or a charity in your community.