Tarrant County - Obituaries - Beryl Steele Gibson *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Charlotte Coble Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************** Fort Worth Star-Telegram August 28, 1993 MANSFIELD – Beryl Steele Gibson was an enthusiast of history which began decades ago with research into the Gibson family, a pioneer family of Mansfield. Her passion quickly spread to the point that she became an undisputed authority on the history of Mansfield. Gibson died Friday following a heart attack earlier this month and subsequent heart-bypass surgery. She will be buried on Sunday in the Gibson Family Cemetery in northwest Mansfield, which she worked to restore and gain recognition as a state historical marker. Gibson, whom friends called by her maiden name, Steele, helped found the Mansfield Historical Society 13 year ago, said society board member Grace Nichols. She could remember dates and facts – who married who, who died and everything – I never saw anyone like her, Nichols said. Everybody who knew Steele admired her for her ability and what she could remember. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1917, she moved to Mansfield in 1945, after marrying Ira Gibson, owner of the Gibson grocery store in downtown Mansfield. For one Christmas about five years ago, all she asked for was money to purchase new tomb stones to help restore several old cemeteries in the area, said her husband, Ira Gibson. Her interests ranged from recording the past to assuring compatible growth in the future. She also worked as a volunteer, helping the mentally handicapped at the Fort Worth State School. Planning department director Felix Wong said Gibson frequently worked with city planners and helped in the development of sign and construction guidelines for old downtown Mansfield. She also helped create a self-guided tour of Mansfield and a register of historical places, among many other things. She continually encouraged the city to correct the spelling of Field Street to its original spelling in honor of one of the founders of Mansfield, Julian Feild, Wong said. She was probably the most knowledgeable in terms of the history of Mansfield, said Felix. She also played a guiding role in the efforts of Mansfield Historical Society creating a book detailing the history of Mansfield. Funeral services will be held at 4:30 p.m., Sunday at Blessing Colonial Chapel, 401 Elm Street in Mansfield, with burial following at the Gibson Family Cemetery in northwest Mansfield. Gibson is survived by her husband, Ira Gibson; one son, Michael Gibson of Arlington; one daughter, Jean Gibson of Fort Worth; one brother, H. E. Steele of West Point, Georgia; two sisters, Hu-Ellen Farrar of Fort Worth; and Mary Elizabeth Wages of Birmingham, Alabama; and one grandchild.