Gilbert (Gib) B. Eley was born on 31 May 1928 in Antelope County, Nebraska. He died on 9 March 2015, at age 86, in Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona. He was buried Cremated.
Gilbert (Gib) B. Eley was a Real Estate Broker-Manager in Woods Bros Realty.
1 Gilbert "Gib" B. Eley, age 86, of Lincoln, died Monday, March 9th, 2015 in Mesa, Ariz. He was born on May 31st, 1928 on a farm near Orchard to John and Jenny Eley. He attended Dist. #57 country school and graduated from Orchard High School in 1946. Attended Chadron State College and taught school in Cherry County for one year. Gib was united in marriage to Mary Lou Sovereign on February 16th, 1951 in Orchard.
After farming and working for Union Pacific RR for five years, he moved with his wife and family of one son and three daughters to Lincoln in 1956. Gib worked for the State of Nebraska as a driver's license examiner. He was a people person, discovering direct sales was his calling, working with Field Enterprises as a district manager, selling World Book and Childcraft for 17 years. Gib became a real estate broker-manager working for over 36 years at Woods Bros. Realty.
He served on many committees for local, state and national associations. He was selected as Realtor of the Year, by the Realtor Association of Lincoln, in 1991 and served as president for both, local (1998) and state (1999-2000) Realtor Associations. Gib was a member of St. Mark's United Methodist Church, active in his political party and other community projects. Supported the Lincoln, Community Playhouse, Nebraska football, enjoyed his cabin on the lake, boating, and being surrounded by family & friends. Gib & Mary enjoyed world traveling and, in later years, their winter home in Mesa, Ariz. where he loved sitting on the porch visiting with friends and everyone who passed by.
Survivors include Mary, his wife of 64 years; daughters, Marcia (Phil) Brewer, Deborah (Gaylen) Kennell and Julia (James) Harbols; 12 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren; his brother, John (Aletha) Eley; brother and sister-in-law, Clifford (Elaine) Sovereign; sisters-in-law, Nona Nelson and Sharon Sovereign; one foster son, Fred Orduna; and many special nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his son, Michael L. Eley; parents, John and Jenny Eley; brother, Robert Eley, sister and brother-in-law Violet and Lionel Gibbs; brothers-in-law, Gordon Sovereign and Timothy Nelson; and one nephew, Patrick Nelson.
Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Monday, March 16th, at St. Marks United Methodist Church, Lincoln and 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 17th, at the United Methodist Church in Orchard. Visitation will be 9-9 with the family 6-8 p.m. Sunday; and 10-11 Monday at church. Memorials to: Gilbert & Mary Eley Scholarship Fund at the University of NE-Teachers College; St. Mark's United Methodist Church, Lincoln City Mission or Orchard Historical Society District 57 School Restoration. Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home will be handling the arrangements. Online Condolences can be left at www.bmlfh.com.