Clara Hunt Gibson

Clara Hunt Gibson, age 83 of Maryville, died on Friday, September 6, 2024, at Brookdale Browns Creek after struggling over seven years with dementia. Clara was a collector of memories of family and faith. She loved Jesus all her life and was baptized into the Christian faith in October 1949, at Grace Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Clara was a current member of Maryville First Baptist Church and a previous member of Sevier Heights Baptist Church. She enjoyed singing alto with her church choirs and was most proud of performing in the Living Christmas Tree Programs in Knoxville. Clara liked to say that she had a PhD in homemaking; she also retired from Proffitt’s Department Store as a Sales Associate. Clara’s greatest passion was her love and devotion to her grandchildren. They called her “Mamoo,” and she proudly adopted that name to be used by all her family and friends. She loved her grandchildren more than life. Mamoo was one-of-a-kind and will always be remembered for her playful and exuberant spirit, her enjoyment for coffee and conversation, her extraordinary love and sacrifice for family, and her deep faith in God. She was preceded in death by her parents, I.Z. and Ruth Hunt; sister, Dorothy Hunt; brother-in-law, Wally White. Survivors include her daughter & son-in-law, Lisa Gibson and Alan DeBusk; son & daughter-in-law, Drs. Lynn and Angelia Gibson; her loving grandchildren, Andrew Goodman & wife Lauren, Will Gibson, Owen Gibson, Nate Gibson, and Netsa Gibson; loving sister, Carolyn White; special nieces, DeAnna Ward & husband John, and Dana Powers; great-nieces & nephew, Sarah-Wallace Reimer & husband Kyle, Caroline Ward & fiancé Daniel Potter, Amelia Powers, Newlon Powers; step-grandsons, Adam DeBusk & wife Amber, and Alex DeBusk. Our family is forever grateful to the staff of Brookdale Browns Creek and Gentiva Hospice for their loving care during the last 4 years of Clara’s life. Mamoo will be greatly missed by all who know her. May her values of family, faith, and song never be forgotten. Family and friends who wish to offer their respects may do so at their convenience from 10am-4pm, Friday, September 13, 2024, in the East Hall of Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, Tennessee. We will celebrate and pay tribute to Clara’s life through a memorial ceremony on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at 11am, in the Grandview Pavilion at Grandview Cemetery, Maryville, Tennessee with Rev. Gary Stinnett officiating. Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Tennessee, Inc. East TN Office, 5801 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919, or www.Alztennessee.org. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com.