Joy L (Robinson) Gibson, 72, of Houston, Texas, passed away on April 27, 2024 at the Houston Methodist West Hospital in Houston, Tx.

Joy was born on January 6, 1952 and adopted by James and Helen Irene (Price) Robinson in Galveston, Texas.  She married Howard Gibson on February 27th, 1982.  Howard and Joy had a total of five sons, three from a previous relationship and two from Joy and Howard's union.  Joy worked at SWB/ATT for 31 years.  She started her career for the company in 1981. She met her husband Howard there, as he was working construction and adding onto the building.

Joy described meeting her husband, as love at first sight.  They began dating on February 27, 1981. After they started dating, Howard took Joy to meet his family in Missouri.  They all loved her from the first time they met.  Joy loved his hometown of St. James, Missouri, as well as all of his family and friends.

While in St. James, Howard took Joy to Meramec Springs Park. She said it was the most beautiful. Joy is the most beautiful, most perfect woman Howard has even known.  She is sweet, kind, fun-loving, and always had a big, beautiful smile.  She was an amazing mother.  She may have let him only change a diaper on their babies 3-4 times.  She said to him it was her job.

Joy raised their grandson Andrew from the day he was born to age 6 after his mother and the court took Andrew away.  Andrew was born on December 1, 2012.  Joy loved him so very much. Anyone who knew her loved her.

One of Howard's favorite stories of their love was of him buying Joy her favorite Garnet jewelry.  Howard recounts it as follows: "In 1983 I bought her a garnet ring for Mother's Day.  She loved garnet, it is her birthstone.  They did not have a pendant as earrings to match it.  So, I made a sketch of what I wanted and took it to West Oaks Mall to have it made. Then, around Christmas time it was ready.

"We were going to a Christmas party in Katy that year.  I rushed her to get ready. She stated that we were leaving too early.  When we were near West Oaks Mall, I said you were right I left too early, let's stop at the mall and window shop for a while.  We went in to look at jewelry.  I had her sit down to look at something in the cart.  The manager brought out what I had made for her.  He opened the cast and put it in front of her.

"Joy said that looks like my ring. I said to try it on.  I put the necklace and earrings on her.  After a minute or 2 she said this is too expensive I need to take it off.  I told her, you can't take it off, it is yours, Merry Christmas.  She cried because I had made it for her.

"We went to the party.  All the women at the party saw she had been crying and they gathered around her to see if I had been bad to her.  She said 'he just gave this to me for Christmas.'  I never wanted her to cry. But happy tears are okay.  I would buy her flowers.  When she got the flowers, she would cry happy tears.  But when the flowers would die, she would cry sad tears.  I would tell her I don't like it when your eyes leak baby.  So, I started buying silk flowers so they would not die and she would have to cry. I told her I will never take off my wedding ring because I love her so much.  Joy is my wife.  The mother of our children.  My cheerleader.  My best friend.  The love of my life.  She is my beautiful sweet cakes and I am her Hun."

Joy and Howard met Edwin and Ruby and their children.  They became wonderful friends.  Edwin and Ruby said they were all family and loved Joy.  They would go to Edwin and Ruby's farm in Brookshire to watch the baby calves and baby goats play.  Joy would laugh and smile at the way they would run and jump around. Joy would love to walk hand in hand to look at the flowers in the field. Howard would tell her you are beautiful, and Joy would respond "You make me beautiful".

On February 27th, 2024 Howard and Joy were married 42 years.  Howard says they have been dating 43 years, and "every day with her is a date, every day with her is special".  He tried to show her every day how much he loved her, and how much she meant to him.  She told him she wanted to be buried wearing her Christmas garnets in his hometown near his family who loved her so much.  She will be buried in the Saint James Cemetery in St. James, Missouri.  43 years is not enough.

Joy had dementia for the last 2 years. Howard retired to care for her.  To uphold their oath made on their wedding date.  Every day with Joy is special.  Joy's 5 boys and grandchild and her friends will miss this wonderful woman, but they will not forget her.  Howard will miss his beautiful sweetcakes most of all.  They will be together again in Heaven.

Before Joy passed, he told her repeatedly how much he loved her and to go to heaven to find her dad, James Robinson, and Howard's brother Orville, whom she loved so much.  Find Howard's dad, Junior Gibson, stepmother, Loraine Gibson, and Howard's grandpa and grandma.  Howard encouraged Joy to stay with them because they loved her so much.  He told her, "I will come to heaven and find you.  We will be together forever and ever and ever and more ever after that.  I will miss you.  But I will never forget you baby doll.  You are the love of my life."

Visitation was held 9:00 AM -  Noon Monday, May 6, 2024 at Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri.

Funeral services were held 12:00 PM Monday, May 6, 2024 with Terry Geiler officiating at Jones Funeral Home. Burial was in the St. James Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri.