Ethel Mae Gibson

Ethel (Mae Mae) Gibson, loving mother, grandmother, and sister, peacefully passed away on February 21, 2022, in Evansville, IN. Ethel was born on April 21, 1939, in Morgantown, KY to Emanuel Walker Kuykendall and Arthur Mae Taylor-Levester. From an early age, Ethel shined on her light on this world through her gift of music, as she began playing the piano at the age of five. She continued her love for the piano into adulthood, sharing her beautiful musical ministry with a variety of churches, including Greater St James Missionary Baptist Church, Watkins Temple Church of God in Christ and Race Creek Baptist Church in Henderson, Kentucky. Her schooling journey included Chestnut Walnut Elementary and Lincoln High School, both located in Evansville, IN. During her high school years, she was known as the tiniest cheerleader in the tri-state area.
One of Ethel’s greatest joys during her lifetime was being a Granny to so many. After working for St. Mary’s for many years, she would move on to help look after her oldest granddaughters, Chiara and Chasity, showing them unconditional love - as if they were her own children. When the girls became of age when she no longer needed to care for them full time, she went on to be a Granny to many children in the Evansville community, serving as a Foster Grandparent to Carver Day Care. In 2003 Ethel relocated to Reno, NV where she was a member of the Second Baptist Church of Reno, NV pastored by DeSean Horne and would continue being Granny to her grandchildren Jarel, Zivy and Dulcenea living out the next 18 years.
Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother Arthur Thomas Levester.
She is survived by her two sons, Ricardo Berry of South Bend, IN, and Ondra Berry (Margo) of Sparks, NV. Her two siblings, Helena Dixon (Shirley) and Pamela Dennis (John) of Evansville IN. Five grandchildren; Chiara Berry, Chasity Berry-Everett (Randy), Ondra Jarel Berry ll (Krystle), Zivy Berry, and Dulcenea Berry and eight great grandchildren; Zakeyah and Markiyah Brown, Amelia Collins, Elijah, Kai, Noelani Berry, Ricki Jean and Randy Dehaven Everett lll. She leaves to mourn her an uncles, David and Joe Taylor of Owensboro, Kentucky, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and friends.