I just got the announcment of Mrs Jane (formerly Davisson) Gibson passing. 

I am saddened at her passing.  My deepest respects to her family.

I remember her foundly to this day!  She was always encouraging us to draw, paint etc.  I remember doing water colors, sepia and even whatever the egg paint stuff was using a bamboo brush.   I also took some kind of ceramics class with a different teacher who was getting as frustrated about my project as I was - probably more!   My teacher wanted me to scrap it.  I (silently) refused.  My project: a sail boat angling over at a precarious angle which I finally figured out how to support until it turned into greenware.  The teacher did not think it would survive the firing process.  It did! 

I think I disappointed her (Mrs. Davisson) one time with a picture of flowers on a coastal cliff overlooking the ocean (like Roswell has a lot of that scenery!).   Finally I added a sailboat and she seemed so pleased - or was it relieved?  I remember only a few teachers from any of the many schools that I attended.   Mrs Davisson (as I knew her) taught us to incorporate our mistakes so that they looked like we put it there on purpose.  The ceramic sailboat issue that I finally fixed was a success story directly attributed to her.  If we make mistakes, minimize them or make them look like they are part of our intended work or find a solution to make it work.   She taught these lessons along with stimulating our creative skills.  I have used these skills not only in art but in life creating solutions, modifying or correcting errors be it in art or other of life's pursuits.

I mourn the passing of a very dynamic woman and one I am proud to have known and be tutored by.  

In the highest of Regards and sincere Respect.          

Unlike many long time residents in any particular area of the country, but like many of the students who were in my class, my Father, MSgt Charley V. Neely (USAAC/USAAF/USAF)  was stationed in various locales throughout the United States.  I attended schools in: Texas, Maine, Florida, California, Oklahoma.  One year, I attended 7 different schools in one school year.   So, please pardon me if I can not recall all of my school teachers by name.  The ones that I do remember is because of either a positive or negative view I had of their performance and the impact they had on my education - and even in my life.  Mrs. Gibson is one of those with a positive impact.  She will truly be missed and I am sorry for those who never had the opportunity to be one of her students.