Stephen Clay Gibson

Stephen Clay "Steve" Gibson, 68, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 with family by his side.

Steve was born February 9, 1957 to two loving parents, David and Patricia Gibson, along with a doting older brother, James Gibson. He had a fun childhood spent outside riding his bike, catching snakes, and generally getting into good natured (if rowdy) shenanigans.

Eventually, he tried to get a little bit more respectable by going to Arizona State University to study business. He became president of his fraternity, but he balanced his studies with fun by also taking a memorable semester off to sail a boat with his dad from the east coast, through the Panama Canal, and up to California.

After graduating college, Steve moved back to Southern California to work with his father at Gibson Tractor Company. He eventually sold the business and bought another company and lived out his dreams as an entrepreneur. He quickly met his ex-wife, Martha Gibson, and they had three daughters together: Heather Nigro, Meagan Gibson, and Michelle Gibson. Besides his daughters, Steve is survived by his older brother, a slew of adoring nieces and nephews (and their families), and 3 grandchildren.

Besides being a father, Steve’s greatest passions were animals (especially dogs or snakes), playing basketball or beach volleyball, rafting down the Grand Canyon, buying fixer-upper homes to work on, and woodworking. There was almost nothing that he couldn’t fix, though he frequently underestimated the timeline in getting things done. A “6 month” project could easily take two to three years. He lived the last years of his life on his boat in Ventura Harbor, where he could enjoy the ocean breeze and some sea lion neighbors.

Steve will be remembered for his sense of humor, his kind and gentle nature, and his dedication to his family. His family is planning on a memorial service later this year. In lieu of gifts, the family asks that donations be made to the Ventura County Humane Society or CARL (Canine Adoption and Rescue League).

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