Michael Lee Gibson

10/20/1942 - 05/15/2010

Michael Lee Gibson
Michael Lee Gibson, 67, of Santa Maria, died May 15, 2010.
He was born to the late Harold John "Jack" and Lucille Nelda Gibson, on Oct 20, 1942, in Riverside, Ca. Mike played football for, and graduated from, Paso Robles High School in 1960. He joined the Union of Operating Engineers, Local 12, in 1962. He met, and fell in love with his wife Barbara, when she waited on his table, while she was working as a waitress at a Mexican restaurant in 1963. They later married in 1964, lived together in Las Vegas, NV, and in Southern California, before relocating to the central coast in 1986.
Mike was a gifted mechanic, and could fix any engine he ever listened to. His hands were as strong as the steel his tools were made out of. He loved V8 Engines, especially Chevy, and would sometimes amuse himself, and others, with clever jokes he made about "rice burners" or "kraut cans". He was a proud member of the Union for 47 years. He worked at various job sites during his life, working at times in the scorching heat of the desert, while at another time he worked in the freezing extremes of the Arctic Circle when he worked on the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline System in the late 1970's. Being a part of the massive undertaking of the Alaskan Pipeline, and helping to build Perris Dam were main highlights of his career.
Mike enjoyed his wife's tacos, uncle Vic's BBQ'd ribs, researching natural remedies, being kind to his pets, enjoying a good cup of coffee, buying handy tools and gizmos, and hanging out with his good friend Bob.
The pride and joy of Mike's life were his granddaughters. As tough as he was, he loved to do silly little things to make them laugh and giggle, to let them know how much he loved them.
Mike is survived by his loving wife Barbara, twin sister, Patricia; children, Michael, and Monica, and three grandchildren.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 23, 2010, at St. Louis De Montfort Church.
Arrangements are under the direction of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory and Memory Gardens.

Dudley-Hoffman
Mortuary & Crematory
(805) 922-8463
www.dudleyhoffmanmortuary.com