Burton Albert Gibson Jr.

He moved with his parents to West Virginia for two years. He was an only child until his brother and lifelong friend, Ray Gibson, was born in 1947. After his brothers birth, his mother took Burt and Ray back to Santa Cruz County where Burt lived until his death on December 15, 2024.

Burt had many jobs throughout his life. Work was a very important part of his identity and he instilled a good work ethic on his children.

As a young boy and teenager he delivered papers for the Santa Cruz Sentinel and for the San Jose Mercury. He worked for his family at the ranch in Davenport, CA as a laborer, truck and tractor driver and on the weekends he drove tractor for his cousin's artichoke ranch in Castroville, CA.

In 1964 he went to work as a truck driver for Goodwill Industries. In 1966 he worked in a wrecking yard for a short time until he landed his forklift driving job for John Ingles. He worked there until 1976.

in 1977 he worked at a car crushing business where he got his pinky finger caught in the crushers lift system and almost got crushed himself. He had to get his pinky amputated because of that incident.

Meanwhile, he was a home mechanic, fixing vehicles for friends and family, He was a race car mechanic and part of the pit stop crew for Bob Hendricks at Watsonville Speedway.

He worked for his friend Wayne Jamison restoring cars. From there he took his knowledge of car restoration and mechanics and worked from his garage restoring old cars, painting and restoring busses for the churches and mechanics. He gladly recruited his son and daughter and family to help with the sanding and teaching mechanics. He worked for a time demolishing a cement plant, where he was crushed by a cement pillar, which took a toll on his body, but he pressed on.

He also worked at the bus barn as a mechanic for Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) and was the coordinator for the PVUSD Bus Rodeo Team. He was very proud of that team and even took first place for 4 years in a row for the timed Best Represented Shop Truck event.

Burt retired from PVUSD in 2012 and spent the next 1.5 years converting busses for a Salinas based trucking company. His last job was with Ed Boggner Mechanics doing shop clean-up, hauling away recycling and anything else they needed him to do. Burt always loved recycling. So this job suited him well.

In Burt's younger years, he enjoyed family BBQ's, trips to the lake to drive the ski boats (he was NOT a swimmer), camping, slot car races, CB Radio's, shooting pool, playing cards, building models, and of course gardening. He was a master at preparing the soil and growing just about everything. Including an over abundance of squash. And did I mention recycling? He was known to pull his car to the curb and jump out, cross several lanes of traffic, to retrieve an aluminum can, or send his children to get them. He had an eagle eye for recyclables. He participated in many car shows with his 1950 Ford Pick up that he fully restored in his garage. He won many trophies and awards showing off his pride and joy.

He married Mary (Bollman) Gibson, Parrish in 1964 and divorced in 1978

Had a daughter, Nora (Gibson) Hofmans in 1965 who is married to Michael Hofmans

Their children are Brandi Lucio, Timothy Hofmans, David Hofmans, Evan Hofmans and Daniel Hofmans

Grand children. Alexander Rodriguez, Adrianna Rodriguez, Austin Rodriguez, Kennith Lucio and Katherine Lucio.

Had a son, John Gibson in 1970 who is married to Jenifer Gibson

Children Joshua Hill and Nathan Bentley

He re-married Sandra (Reeder) Gibson in 1978 and divorced in 1988.

with her he had two step children, Mark Reeder and Tamara Reeder

And together they had two Dachshunds dogs named Scooter and Squidly.

He has been with his faithful partner and companion, Tony Ivankovich from 1998 to his passing on December 15, 2024.

She has three sons Anthony Ivankovich, Mario Ivankovich, and Domonic Ivankovich. Together they had three beloved dogs named Snoopy, Buddy and Harley.

He is survived by his partner Tony Ivankovich and her children and Harley. His Brother Ray Gibson and his wife Lydia Gibson and Burt's children Nora Hofmans and John Gibson and his grand children

Joshua Hill, Nathan Bentley, Brandi Lucio, Timothy Hofmans, David Hofmans, Evan Hofmans and Daniel Hofmans and great-grand children Alexander Rodriguez, Adrianna Rodriguez, Austin Rodriguez, Kennith Lucio and Katherine Lucio.