Wells, ME

Billie Manning Gibson, formerly of Salem, died after a brief illness on October 7th at Evergreen Manor in Saco, ME at the age of 92. Born in Peabody in 1919, she lived in Salem for almost seventy years. She considered herself a "Salem Native" despite living the last twenty years of her life in Falls Church, VA and Andover, MA. She was the daughter of the legendary Salem real estate and insurance broker, the late William F. Manning, and his wife, Marion H. Manning, both of Salem.

She was predeceased by her husband of fifty years, the late Salem baseball great, Garnet L. "Bumpy" Gibson, and her son, Peter M. Gibson, former Executive Secretary to the late Salem Mayor, Sam Zoll.



She is survived by her son, William L. Gibson and his wife, Martha, of Drakes Island, Wells, ME and a sister, Paula M. Parker, and her husband, Irv, of Salem. She also leaves five grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A graduate of Salem High School and Lesley College, Billie taught kindergarten and first grade in Salem for many years prior to her retirement in 1977. One of the "Four Manning Sisters" of Salem, she, along with her sister, Dorothy, danced professionally throughout the northeast, appearing in many "reviews" during the war years of the late 1930's and early 1940's. For many years she served as a member and officer in the Bowdoin College Parents Association as well as the Lesley College Alumni Association.

Visiting Hours will be on Monday, November 14, 2011 from 4:00PM to 8:00 PM in the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St., (cor. of North St.) Salem. A private Memorial Service will be held at a later date at The Immaculate Conception Church, Salem. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Billie's name to the Plummer Home for Boys, 37 Winter Island Rd., Salem, MA 01970. For online guest book or additional information, please call 978 744 0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.