Paul "Leon" Gipson, Jr. - Black Oak

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Paul "Leon" Gipson, Jr., 64, of Black Oak, died May 15, 2006. He grew up in the Oak Grove Community and graduated from Valley View High School in 1961. He owned and operated Gipson Well Co., an irrigation water-well and pump business, since 1971. In 1991, the business moved to Monette. He was a member of Monette First Baptist Church. He sang and played the guitar most of his life, with other members of the family, known as "The Gipsons". He served in the Arkansas National Guard and was a 32nd degree Mason.

He leaves his wife, Linda Bennett Gipson, of 42 years; three children, two sons and one daughter-in-law, Troy and Julie Gipson and Dave Gipson, of Jonesboro; a daughter, Tina Gipson of Black Oak; eight grandchildren, Brent Gipson, Blaine Gipson, Mallory Gipson, Josh Gipson, Noah Walker, all of Jonesboro, Ariel Carroll, and Allana Carroll, of Black Oak, and Audrey Parrish of Marmaduke; five brothers, Larry Gipson, Jimmy Gipson, Gary Gipson, Jerry Gipson and Mark Gipson; and three sisters, Betty White, Patricia Agee and Karen Woodruff, all of Jonesboro.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Bessie Gipson, a brother, Bob Gipson, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, A.D. and Orean Bennett.

The funeral was held 10 a.m. Thursday at Emerson Memorial Chapel with Rev. Captain Lovell and Bob Blankenship officiating and burial at Philadelphia Cemetery with Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Active pallbearers were Jeremy White, Jim May, Jon Jones, Brent Gipson, Mark Gipson, and Tracy Bolden. Honorary pallbearers were Hershel Caples, Vance Cook, Ron Jones, Stan Dodson, Bill Gallion, Paul McMorris, Steve Youngstrom, Dave Youngstrom, Charlie Agee, Kevin McComas and Bill Carle.

The family requests anyone wishing to leave a lasting memorial consider the Monette First Baptist Church Family Life Center.