Beverly Jean Gipson Rigsby's Obituary
Beverly Rigsby, aged 86, of Richardson, TX passed away on January 20, 2021 due to complications while recuperating from COVID-19. Her daughter is grateful to the kind and caring nurses and doctors in the ICU at Baylor Centennial in Frisco who diligently fought to bring her back to her family and lovingly helped with the transition when it was time for Beverly to join God and the loved ones who had gone before her.
Beverly was born in Tyler, Texas on April 7, 1934, the only child of Merrill and Mozelle Shaw Gipson. She is predeceased by her parents, a dear step-father, John B. Carlisle, her beloved son Tony Rigsby, and her best friend and beloved husband Bill Rigsby. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Rick White, Rick’s daughters and grandsons Michelle Ashley, Lyndsey White, Stephen Ingram and Patrick Ybarra, step-sister and step-brother Marsha Twiss and Charles Carlisle, as well as many cherished nieces and nephews from the Rigsby family.
Beverly graduated from Tyler High School and Tyler Junior College where she was a cheerleader and member of the drill team at both schools with many fun and happy memories of her school days. She graduated from North Texas State (now UNT) with a Bachelor of Business Education in 1955. A few years later, she got her Elementary Certification from SMU and later earned a Masters of Education from East Texas State (now Texas A&M Commerce).
Beverly’s life changed forever during the first week of school in her senior year at North Texas when she reluctantly agreed to a blind date and met Bill Rigsby. They knew by Christmas that they would be together forever and they were married the following summer on August 20, 1955. They were together for 49 happy years until Bill passed away from cancer in 2004.
Beverly retired from Richardson ISD in 1995 where she taught first grade at Greenwood Hills Elementary and Spring Valley Elementary. She loved teaching first graders and always referred to them as “My Kids,” even after they were grown with children of their own. One of her greatest delights in her later years was her Facebook friendships with several of her former students and parents and she loved reading about their lives. And it was through teaching that she formed a years-long lasting friendship with a group of fellow teachers who are fun-loving and caring and always supportive of each other.
Two years ago, Beverly moved to Twin Rivers Assisted Living in Richardson, TX and became friends with several residents and staff. It was through the kindness of the staff and the enjoyable friendships she made that helped Beverly settle in to her new living arrangements and look upon it as her home.
Always generous of heart, especially to the underdog, Beverly gave to causes that benefited children, animals, disabled veterans and women. Beverly was an optimistic person who found humor in everyday life and loved to laugh. She was blessed with a happy childhood with parents and grandparents who cherished her, a long and happy marriage with two children, and friends and extended family that she loved. She once said, “The biggest joys of my life have been my family. As Bill and I grew older, the love just seemed to grow stronger and he was the center of my life. And we were so lucky that both of our children, parents and extended family lived nearby. It meant we could see each other often and have so much fun together with many cherished memories.”
There will be a private, graveside service for Beverly’s interment. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held on February 13 at 2:30 in the Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery. Because of limited seating capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions, the seating is reserved by pre-arrangement with the family. However, the service will be live streamed for all who wish to join in the remembrance and celebration of Beverly.
To view the live streaming of the service, please click the link below.
http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/47851
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