Thomas Sandy Gibson

Thomas Sandy Gibson passed away at home (Iroquois) on Saturday, August 13, 2016. He was 77.

Sandy was reunited with his loving wife, the late Verna (Lewis) Gibson, who predeceased him on March 7, 2016. 

He was the cherished father of Cathy (Neil Huffman) of Merrickville and Shelley (James Byers) of Iroquois,  and beloved poppa of Will and Maddie Huffman. 

Sandy will be greatly missed by sister Rita Jordan (Oshawa) and brother Dennis Gibson (Oshawa), and many family members, neighbours, and friends.

Sandy was born on October 11, 1938, in Mountain Township, Ontario, and was the second of five children born to Tommy Gibson and Eileen Workman. 

He went to public school in Mountain Station and Heckston, and high school in Kemptville and Oshawa. 

As a young man, he held various jobs, including that of “pin setter” at the Oshawa Bowling Centre and mill worker at Caldwell Linen Mill in Iroquois. 

He joined the Canadian Air Force in 1958, and was stationed at Camp Borden, in Angus, Ontario. 

After completing his service, he returned to the Linen Mill, where he continued to work for several more years. 

In the late 1960s, Sandy went back to school to became an electrician. 

He obtained his electrician’s licence in 1971, and during the early years of his electrical career, he worked for local businesses as an electrician before starting his own business. 

In 1981, he became an Industrial electrician for Ports Canada, a position he held until 2004 when he “officially” retired. 

He never fully retired, however, and continued to work part-time doing jobs for family, friends, and members of the community until vhis passing. 

Remarkably, he went back to school in 2010 at the age of 71 to obtain his “master electrician” licence! 

TS Gibson Electric was very well-known in these parts for providing quality work and treating people fairly.

Sandy loved music, particularly traditional country and western music, and gospel. 

He also loved to play cards and dabble in electronics. 

His vegetable garden was legendary, as was his expertise in making fudge and potato bread for family and friends at Christmastime. 

Sandy was also very well known for his hat; he had many, but they were always of the same style, and worn exactly the same way, and he rarely went out without one. 

Sandy met Verna in 1958, and they were married on April 11, 1959. 

During their 57 years of marriage, they resided in Brinston, Smiths Falls, and Prescott for short periods of time,  but most of these years were spent living in their Stampville home. 

Over the past several years, Sandy and Verna were snowbirds, spending many of their winters under the warm Florida sun, in the Dade City/Zephyrhills area.

Sandy and Verna had two daughters, Cathy and Shelley. Sandy was a very devoted father, working full- and part-time during most of his working days to support his family and put his girls through university and college. 

He loved his sons-in-law, Neil and James, as if they were his own sons, and generously shared his knowledge and wisdom with them. 

He cherished his grandchildren, Will and Maddie, and they will always remember everything that he taught them, most importantly how to look after the people you love. 

His family will greatly miss his smile, laughter, and gentle presence as much as they will miss his guidance, support, and helping hands.

During their last several years together, Sandy lovingly cared for Verna during her illness, despite the challenges posed by his own health issues. 

He missed her so much after her passing this spring, his family knows that without any doubt, he was simply — as he would say — “marking time” until he could be with her again.

Family and friends were received at the Marsden McLaughlin Funeral Home in Iroquois on August 18 and 19, 2016, followed by interment at the Hanesville Cemetery. 

In memory of Sandy, contributions to the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be gratefully appreciated by his family.