Jean (nee West) Gibson
March 20, 1934 – January 21, 2025
The family of Jean Audrey (West) Gibson sadly share the news of Jean’s passing in the early morning of January 21, 2025.
Jean Audrey West was born in 1934 to parents Fred and Julia West who farmed near the hamlet of Metiskow, AB. Her life began in some of the most difficult conditions of the 20th century, the Great Depression (or “dirty thirties” as Fred called it), followed by world war, but hard work and perseverance overcame difficulties. Family economics had Jean leaving school and going to live and work away from home at 16. Later in life she shared memories of hard times growing up, but also of warm and happy family times.
In 1952, while working in Provost, Alberta she met and married Angus MacLean, who had come to the town while working on oil rigs in the area. They were attracted by a mutual love of dancing and later in life, daughter Barb recalls Jean was known by some as “Jean, Jean, the dancing machine.” The couple embarked on a life following the oil rigs, living in a very small trailer, even after adding son Donald in 1953. Tragically, Angus MacLean was killed in a rig accident just prior to their second anniversary, leaving Jean as a young widow with a one-year-old child.
In 1956 Jean married James “Mac” Gibson, a friend and work colleague of Angus. Three more children followed; Julie, Douglas and Barbara and the couple embarked on a long and successful marriage and family life.
Jean was a consummate homemaker, caring deeply for her children and putting their interests above her own. Grand-daughters Marla and Emily remember fighting over her fabulous cinnamon buns. Julie remembers her many late nights after kids were in bed, hunched over the sewing machine creating outfits for her growing girls which also included a suitcase of clothes for their Barbie dolls. Starting from her life in a 15ft trailer the family advanced steadily into larger homes. Son Don remembers the large multi-generation dinners where everyone somehow fit into kitchens, tiny by today’s standards. One year had the Christmas group filling a repurposed ping pong table in the basement. Jean prepared everything.
After her children had grown to marketable size, Jean went back to her original work in retail, managing a ladies clothing store in Edmonton for a number of years. Proud to be earning her own money she showered her children with Christmas gifts in her first year back working.
Mac retired early from his job and the couple commenced the golden years of their marriage, spending winters in Hemet California. They met new friends, travelled on cruises, and had 20 years of well-earned retirement as snowbirds. Mac remarked just this week, “they had a wonderful life.” In 1991 they sold their acreage home to their son Douglas and began the reverse steps of progressively smaller homes. Granddaughter Heather will always remember her times picking raspberries at their acreage home and then watching Nana make jam while Grandson Brian recalls good times with Nana at their Pigeon Lake home.
After several years with Mac in an assisted living home, Jean was moved in the summer of 2024 to another home where her needs could be better met. She slipped her earthly bonds peacefully in her own bed at Devonshire Care Centre, Edmonton.
Jean leaves to mourn her passing her husband of almost 69 years, Mac Gibson along with her children and their spouses; Don (Diane), Julie (Dick), Doug (Caron) and Barbara. She enjoyed happy times pampering her grandchildren who knew her as Nana. Heather (Ryan), Brian (Kristal), Marla and Emily (Dylan). She was fortunate to know great-grandchildren, Claire, Nathan, Alice, and Angus. Also surviving Jean is her sister, Marjorie Kozlinski, and her brother Ron West, both of Provost.
Her wish to return to Metiskow will mean a private family service of interment of her ashes to take place in late spring.
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