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Lilly Mama Avalene Gibbs
September 1923 December 2009
gibbs-l-feathered
"Asleep in Jesus"
I Corthians 15: 51-58 I Thessalonians 4: 13-18
Although our Mother's titles were many, Daughter, Sister, Wife, Aunt, Cousin, Grandma, Great-Grandma and Great-Great Grandma, the ones she treasured the most were those of Christian, Mother and Friend.
Lilly was born in Washington, Okla. and passed away Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, in Turlock, Calif., where she resided for the past 50 years. Lilly Avalene was 86 years, two months and 26 days old at the time of her passing. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of HIS saints." — Psalms 116:15
Lilly Avalene Taylor was the youngest child of 11 children born to Melvin and Emma Taylor and was preceded in death not only by her Mama and Daddy, but by all her siblings, Ambrose Chester Taylor, Middy Taylor/Wade, Dave Taylor, Howard Taylor (as an infant), twin sisters Delphi Taylor/Fox  and Della Taylor/Roland, Herman Taylor, Inez Taylor/Bratcher, twins, Odessa Taylor/Etharidge and Otis (as an infant). The very last to leave our lives an entire family now gone but their legacy of "Precious Memories" will last forever and always!
Lilly met her husband, James Cofie (Joe) Gibbs in California and they were married in Stockton on May 19, 1939. Lilly and Joe Gibbs were married for 51 years when Joe passed away in 1990.
Mother was also preceded in death by her oldest son, James Melvin Gibbs (2006); her grandson, Richie Gibbs (2005); and great grandson, Trevor McAbee in (1994).
Lilly is survived by her four children, Lilly Cole, Pat Sisk (John), Colleen McAbee (Wylie), all of Turlock, and Richard Gibbs (Jan) of Hilmar; 11 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren. John Ed Sisk and Wylie D. McAbee in actuality were her sons, “just by another mother.” Jan was also her daughter “by another mother.”
Sister Lilly Gibbs started her walk with the Lord as a young adult in the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Oklahoma. At the age of 15, she moved with her family to California where she began attending the Assemblies of God and upon moving to Turlock in the 1960s, having been Spirit-filled for many years, embraced the Apostolic Christian Faith and attended Turlock's Full Gospel Tabernacle. She was baptized into the "Sweetest Name" Jesus Christ (Romans 6:4) by Pastor Leon Brokaw (Ruth Ann). Sister Gibbs later left Full Gospel in 1972, to be one of the 11 founding members of the Apostolic Christian Faith, The Hilmar Christian Tabernacle founded by her child, Pastor Wylie D. McAbee (Colleen). Sister Gibbs faithfully attended the Hilmar Christian Tabernacle until her health began to fail.
Sister Gibbs’ desire was to be more like Jesus, also a wonderful mother and she truly succeeded at both.
Since the fall of 2000, Lilly resided at Elness Convalescent Hospital and the entire Gibbs family wants to extend their love and heartfelt appreciation to the entire staff for their constant, consistent, loving and compassionate care for her until Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 12, 2009, when Lilly (fell asleep in Jesus) to await the Resurrection of the Dead at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. St. John 5:28,29.
If we had our way, our Loving and Precious Mother would still be with us healthy and well! Mama, rest sweetly and peacefully in Jesus 'til we see you again in the resurrection. Mama, we are "Looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ." — Titus 2:13 —  when we will join you again!
Your Loving Children, Colleen & Wylie, Pat & John, Richard & Jan and Lilly Mae.
Viewing will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17 at Allen Mortuary. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18, also at Allen Mortuary. Burial will follow at Turlock Memorial Park.
Please share your condolences at www.allenmortuary.com.