| Sources |
- [S74] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume IV, 1987-1999, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 16 Apr 1987.
Maudie Shahan Ownby obituary
- [S76] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume III, 1974-1986, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 21 Sep 1977.
John Clarence Gibson obituary
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 17 May 2007.
Gibson among Tennessee's Who's Who
By: CANDICE GRIMM, Staff Writer May 17, 2007
SEVIERVILLE - She's history - colorful history - but that is just one of the reasons that staff and residents of Sevier County Health Care Center love Zelma Lou Gibson.
Aside from being 88 years old, Gibson's historic status comes as a result of her being the very first resident to walk through the doors of Sevier County Health Care Center on Oct. 1, 1979, and that she was named Tuesday to "Who's Who in Tennessee Nursing Homes in 2007."
During a brief ceremony Tuesday, Sevierville Mayor Bryan Atchley, administrator at the health care center, presented Gibson with a framed certificate which she hardly acknowledged. But, Atchley quickly got Gibson's attention when he presented her with a large bouquet of red roses.
Old friends that Gibson and Atchley are, Gibson did not hesitate to ask Atchley, "Who bought 'em? ... Are they real?"
Stating the obvious, Atchley said of Gibson, "She was quite a character (when she entered the center), and she continues to be a character."
Another of her endearing qualities is that she knows the names of all the staff and most of the residents and their families, but perhaps what makes her most popular, according to Atchley, is that "she always knows what's for supper."
Born June 6, 1918, in Sevier County, Gibson was one of eight children. She married and had two daughters, Charlotte Jensen and Kathy Hafley of Maryville. She has six grandchildren, including Katherine Self, and three great-grandchildren, including Jennifer Self, both of whom visited on Monday.
Gibson had worked as a housekeeper in various local hotels, but poor health forced her to quit working while young. She was 60 years old when she moved into Sevier County Health Care Center as an insulin-dependent diabetic.
Jensen said of her mother, "She's a people person. She can get along with anybody." Jensen added that among her mother's friends are Mary Lee Connor, Sue Huff, and Darlene Ogle. Both Huff and Ogle called Gibson "delightful."
Asked whether she had enjoyed living so long at the center, Gibson said, "I'd just as soon live here as anywhere."
In regard to her great memory, Gibson said, "I ain't lost my mind yet."
And, as for her hobbies, Gibson said, "I like to eat the best." But, Jensen added that her mother also enjoys using snuff and smoking.
* cgrimm@themountainpress.com
- [S112] Census, 1920.
Name: Zelma L Shehan
Residence: , Sevier, Tennessee
Estimated Birth Year: 1919
Age: 1
Birthplace: Tennessee
Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter
Gender: Female
Race: White
Marital Status: Single
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Film Number: 1821762
Digital Folder Number: 4390948
Image Number: 00105
Sheet Number: 7
Household Gender Age
Parent Joseph B Shehan M 49y
Parent Matilda N Shehan F 44y
Maud M Shehan F 19y
Claude H Shehan M 12y
Boyd G Shehan M 9y
Aud M Shehan M 7y
Nola G Shehan F 5y
Zelma L Shehan F 1y6m
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 14 May 2012.
Zelma Lou Gibson
June 06, 1918 - May 14, 2012
Birthplace: Tennessee
Resided In: Sevierville Tennessee USA
Visitation: May 17, 2012
Service: May 17, 2012
Cemetery: Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens
Zelma Lou Shahan Gibson, an angel in our midst, is now with her Heavenly Father and loved ones in Heaven. She left us Monday, May 14, 2012, but we’ll carry her in our hearts until we meet up there. She was born to Matilda and Joe Shahan in Sevierville on June 6, 1918. Departing before her were her mother, father, sisters, Nola Stephenson, Dellie Townsend, Maudie Ownby; brothers, Rellie Shahan, Claude Shahan, Andy Shahan, Lester Shahan and her children’s father Bon H. Campbell; precious daughter, Glenda Hafley.
Survivors include her children, Kathy Zeomia Teeters, Charlotte Ann Jensen; grandchildren, Kathryn F. Self, Robert (Bobby) W. Morgan, Jason Hafley, Amanda Hafley; great-grandchildren, Jennifer Self, Matthew Self, Christopher Morgan; great-great-grandchildren, Ezekiel Self, Elijah Armigo, Isabella Maria Armigo; constant friend and companion, James (J.J.) Jensen; precious and loving niece, Mary Lee Conner, who loved and always remembered her all through the years in many, many ways.
The family will receive friends 1 PM – 1:45 PM Thursday at Atchley’s Smoky Mountain Chapel, Pigeon Forge. Graveside service and interment will follow at 2 PM Thursday in Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens. Arrangements by Atchley’s Smoky Mountain Chapel, 220 Emert Street, Pigeon Forge, Tn. (www.atchleyfuneralhome.com)
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Groom's Name: Joseph Shehan
Groom's Birth Date:
Groom's Birthplace:
Groom's Age:
Bride's Name: Matilda A. Williams
Bride's Birth Date:
Bride's Birthplace:
Bride's Age:
Marriage Date: 14 Mar 1897
Marriage Place: , Sevier, Tennessee
Groom's Father's Name:
Groom's Mother's Name:
Bride's Father's Name:
Bride's Mother's Name:
Groom's Race:
Groom's Marital Status:
Groom's Previous Wife's Name:
Bride's Race:
Bride's Marital Status:
Bride's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M51968-4
System Origin: Tennessee-VR
Source Film Number: 969967
Reference Number: 2:2B66PT0
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