Ellen Gibbs Matson

1944 - 2017

Gibbs Matson, Ellen

age 72, of Elmira, New York, died on Friday, January 20, 2017 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, surrounded by the love of her many friends and family.

Ellen was born in Elmira on May 21, 1944 to Harris and Ann Paton and lived her whole life there. She attended Hendy Avenue school and Elmira Free Academy, graduating in 1962. She went to Skidmore College and graduated in 1966. She returned to Elmira and began teaching in the Elmira School District as an elementary school physical education teacher. Ellen married Lyman "Skip" Gibbs in 1967 and set up housekeeping in the little house she still owns today. Here she raised her family and created a life full of fun and friends. She continued to pursue her physical education vocation by coaching volleyball and basketball and running the intramural program at Elmira College from 1979 until 1988. At one point she ran the adult education classes and served as temporary athletic director of the Elmira School District before returning to George Washington Elementary School as their physical education teacher. At GW, Ellen made physical education fun for the kids, dressing up for parades and initiating after school ski trips to Greek Peak.

Ellen was an avid golfer as well as a serious tennis player. She loved sports of all kinds and engaged in many of them. Ellen was the Women's Club Champion at the Elmira Country Club four times and was the proud possessor of three holes in one. She loved spending her summers at Keuka Lake where she entertained family and friends with water sports of all kinds - even balancing on a paddleboard after having two knee replacements. She was a more than twenty year active member of the Elmira Junior League, on the board of directors of the Elmira Country Club and on the board of directors and president of the Elmira College Booster Club. Recently she was President of the Women's Golf Association at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Ellen is survived by her husband Ed Matson of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; her son, Michael of Perrysburg, Ohio and his wife, Jennifer and their two children, Megan (12) and Nathan (10); her daughter, Julie of Lantana, Texas and her husband, Justin Heuer and their two children, Landon (9) and Logan (6). Also her step children, Robin Kelley of Malvern, Pennsylvania and her husband Colin and their daughters Caroline and Claire; Ned Matson of Brentwood, New Hampshire and his wife Jessie and their three children, Carter, Ryan and Katie; and Amy Hyland of Cincinnati, Ohio and her husband David and their three boys, Nicholas, Michael and Nathan. She is also survived by her three siblings, her sister, Sue Wiseman of Roanoke, Virginia and her husband, Charles; her sister Christie Holmes of Viera, Florida; and her brother, Bruce Paton of Winter Park, Florida and his wife Karen. She leaves her three first cousins, Charlie Schott, Joan Peck and Judy Keim. Ellen was very fortunate to have had a second family who loved her as a sister in Georgia Reynolds and her husband, Rance, Pam Yunis and Kim Kinsman, and Bebette Yunis and Kristen DeLuca. Ellen's many nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, will miss her effervescent spirit and her unparalleled joy of life.

Family and friends are invited to McInerny Funeral Home, 502 W. Water Street, Elmira, on Tuesday, May 16, 2017, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A Service of Thanksgiving will be held on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 12:00 noon, Grace Episcopal Church, 375 W. Church Street, Elmira. The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Keuka Lake Association, 142 Main Street, Penn Yan NY 14527.