Merl A. Gipson Jr.

April 6, 1923 – July 17, 2022

Merl A. Gipson Jr., 99, passed away on July 17, 2022, in Basin, Wyo., where he lost his long battle with Alzheimer’s and joined his Lord God in heaven. 

Merl was born in rural northwestern Nebraska to Merl Sr. and Carrie (McCoy) Gipson on April 6, 1923. He and his siblings, Lois and Dean, were raised on a farm and rode horses everywhere they went. His favorite story for his kids and grandchildren was that he rode his horse uphill when going to school and that he also rode his horse uphill when going home. He graduated from Keya Paha County High School in Springview, Neb.

Following high school, he married his sweetheart, Ruth Anderson. To this union came two children, Mary Lynn and Roger. He was called to serve his country in the Philippines during World War II. After serving his country he returned to Nebraska and, following a few brief employments he moved his family to Greybull, Wyo., where he spent the remainder of his working years employed by Burlington Northern Railroad. He worked for BN for 32 years. He also was a very active member of First Baptist Church, past commander of the American Legion Post 32 and served on the board of Greybull Public Schools. He considered it an honor to follow the colors as grand marshal in the Days of ‘49 parade in 2014, where he felt he represented all WWII veterans.

Following the dissolution of his first marriage, he married Gladine Simon, who predeceased him. He spent his remaining years married to Kitty Burris who sustained him as he struggled with the results of Alzheimer’s. Merl and Kitty attended many family reunions together and thoroughly enjoyed all the time they spent with each other. There was much love shared between the two of them.

Merl was preceded in death by his parents; son and daughter-in-law Roger and Cynthia Gipson; brother and sister-in-law, Dean and Mary Gipson; sister and brother-in-law, Lois and Andy Rowan. 

Those remaining to cherish their memories of him are: wife, Kitty; daughter and son-in-law, Mary Lynn and Donald (Skip) Anderson; grandchildren, Gary (Stephanie) Anderson, Lisa (William) Corrigan, Keith (Marie) Gipson, Neil (Keira) Gipson. Great-grandchildren, Keaton and Mariah Anderson, Declan and Hailey Corrigan, and Zeke and Thea Gipson. Those also remembering him are Kitty’s children, Mary (Tino) Alcaraz, Pattie (Milo) Vega, Lee (Barbara) Burris, eight grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. Numerous nieces, nephews and friends are also missing him.

A funeral service will be held at Shell Community Hall in Shell, Wyo., on Monday July 25, 2022 at 11 a.m. directly followed by a graveside burial at Whaley Cemetery in Shell, Wyo. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to Atwood Family Funeral Directors.