Frederick Carmel Gibson

Frederick Carmel Gibson passed away on June 2, 2015 at the Life Care Center in Ducktown, TN. He was born on August 11, 1928 in Hendersonville, NC. He is survived by Doris Womble Gibson, his loving wife of 67 years, and his daughter, Jeri Gail Gibson Whitworth, and son-in-law, Charles Whitworth of Evans, GA.

His surviving siblings are John Otis Gibson, Canton, GA; Mildred Hazel Norman, Hendersonville, NC; and Carolyn "Boots" Swinney, Campo Bello, SC. He is also survived by brothers-in-law, Joe Womble (Weezie), Atlanta, GA, Bazelle Nelson (Elsie), Ducktown, TN, Edwin Womble, Llano, CA. and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Carmel is preceded in death by parents Ben Gibson and Ollie "Ruth" McCarson, and siblings, Vivian Doris Gibson Adcock, Nancy Imogene Gibson Briggs and Benjamin Avery "Benny" Gibson.

Carmel moved to Tennessee in 1937. He served in the Navy from 1945 to 1947 on the USS Leary. During his younger years, he worked all over the US in tunnel construction and coal mines. He served as Polk County Deputy Sheriff for two years. He worked for the Tennessee Copper Company briefly in the mines and then as a Security Guard for 30 years.

Carmel was known as "the dancing Mayor" of Ducktown where he served for 26 years. The Red Hills Family and Community Education Club named him The Community Person of the Year for his unwavering service to the community. The citizens of Ducktown saw important changes because of his hard work, persistence and caring. In addition to going out and cleaning the streets, if necessary, he also was key to getting grant money for water and sewer projects to support the city as well as industrial park development, businesses, senior housing and a nursing home. All the while, he refused to seek the limelight. A Southeastern Development representative remarked, "If you see Carmel in jeans and work boots, he will be doing manual labor for Ducktown. But, if you see him in a suit, he is going to Nashville for grant money. Carmel may have only had a fifth grade education, but he is the smartest man I have ever known. Can you imagine was he could have accomplished if he had finished the sixth grade." He could "build or fix anything" and never shunned hard work. If he could sweat or get dirt on his jeans, he was happy. He loved doing things for other people. He never wanted anything for himself. He always said his job in life was to take care of Doris and Jeri and then whoever else needed something. Spending his last years at the Life Care Nursing Home in Ducktown didn't stop Carmel's ready smile, his down-to-earth attitude and his ability to entertain. Fellow residents could always count on Carmel "dancing a jig" any time music groups performed at the Nursing Home.

A celebration of Carmel's life will be held at Ducktown United Methodist Church Satruday, June 20, 2015 at 2:00PM with Rev. Renie Whittenbarger officating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ducktown Methodist Church, P.O. Box 327, Ducktown, TN 37326.

Arrangements entrusted to the Finch-Cochran Funeral Home of McCaysville, GA. You may send condolences to the family and sign the guest register at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.