Mary Etta (Jones) Gibson, daughter of Levi Cashes and Lida Ann (Turner) Jones, was born in Skull Valley, Yavapai County, Arizona Territory, on August 16, 1894. Her father was a teamster who hauled sand and gravel by wagon to help build the Yavapai County courthouse, in addition to doing some farming and ranching. When the 1900 census was enumerated the family had moved and was living on S. Granite St. in Prescott.
On December 25, 1910, Mary married George L. Gibson, a native Arizona cowboy. The Weekly Journal-Miner, January 4, 1911, reported: “Mr. Gibson is a well to do farmer and stockman. He has a seven room brick building for his bride, and is represented as one of the most industrious and frugal young men in the county. His bride was born in Arizona, and is a young woman of fascinating personality and very much endeared to all.” The couple had six children: William George “Bill” of Bagdad, born October 26, 1911; Ada Paula (Gibson) Smith, of Prescott, born April 23, 1913; Ruby May (Gibson) Satathite, born October 16, 1915, of the N4 Ranch in Yava, Yavapai County; and Violet Mary (Gibson) Sanders, born June 15, 1918 in Prescott. The youngest son, James C. “Jimmy,” born January 2, 1921, who lived in Seligman, died October 14, 1983, and the youngest child, Dorothy L., born January 2, 1923, died when she was two years two months and ten days old due to a brief attack of influenza.
When Mary registered to vote in 1922 she gave her full name as Mrs. Etta Gibson, stating she was five feet three inches tall, weighing one hundred pounds, with black hair and green eyes. Mary worked with her husband on many ranches in Yavapai County including the Mule Shoe, the Toehold, the JF, and the Ritter. The couple retired in the early 1960s and settled in Prescott, celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary with an open house December 24, 1960. George died August 27, 1970, and Mary moved to the Arizona Pioneers' Home in 1976.
Mary died on October 16, 1986 with graveside services being held at the Skull Valley Cemetery, where she was buried next to her husband.
Donor: Bill Gibson, son, April 2002
Photo Located: PO-2586P
Updated 10/24/2016, D. Sue Kissel
