Ivy Michelle Gipson

Ivy Michelle Gipson was celebrated in heaven on July 29

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, 2023, at the age of 68, surrounded by family and friends.  She was born in Great Bend, KS on April 8

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, 1955, to Leo and Ruby Meyers. They soon moved to Perryton, Tx where she graduated from Perryton High School. She went on to obtain a bachelor’s in education and Master of Educational Diagnostics from West Texas State University and she was accepted into the Doctorate Program at Texas Tech University.  She was passionate about educating children and always fought to make a positive impact in her students’ lives.  Michelle retired from AISD before being asked to return in a part time position.

Michelle was passionate about helping people throughout her life and was involved in many organizations including: Downtown Women’s Center, Soroptimist, Evelyn Rivers Project, as well as taking a mission trip to Guatemala to spread the word of Christ.  She had a servant’s heart and was always striving to do anything she could for everyone she met.

She never said no to anyone who asked for help. She was notorious for feeding people in their times of need and always had a welcoming spirit. Whether it was feeding people in need or providing a listening ear to those with a broken spirit, her heart and passion was for those around her. However, her greatest passion, blessings, and love were her family. Not only was she a cheerleader in high school, but she was also the greatest cheerleader of her children and grandchildren every day of her life.

When Rodney and Michelle married, their main focus was blending their families, and with much sacrifice and intentionality they created a family that continues to reflect the legacy of the same  love that Rodney and Michelle gave their children. God was always the centerpiece of the Gipson family. Because of their love for God, this bond continues throughout their family, with God as the architect and Michelle as His instrument.

Michelle loved creating beautiful things, fellowship with friends, entertaining, a good glass of wine, Christmas, pets (even the horse), traveling and experiencing new things, being bold and shocking both in her laughter and her style, her corvette, and cooking everyone’s favorite meals. She always said, “you can do anything with the right tools and the right mindset.” She was a passionate, loving, and a faithful servant who strived to make everyone’s life better every day. She was a dedicated, loyal, and beautiful prayer warrior. She was inclusive of all, welcomed everyone into her home and adopted so many into their family.

Michelle was preceded in death by her parents, Pappa Leo and Grammy Faye, her Sister Cindy Brim, and her Nephew Tanner Brim.

She is survived by her husband, Rodney Gipson of Amarillo, her brother-in-law Jon Brim and wife Deedra Hunt of Tulsa, OK, her two daughters, April Hyduk and husband Sean of Tequesta, Fl, and Melissa Gipson of Amarillo, her two sons, Kurt Barclay and wife Emily of Kalamazoo, MI, and Blake Barclay and wife Lindsey of Amarillo, two nephews, Jeremy Brim and wife Ashley of Tulsa, OK., and Zane Brim and Fiancé Angela Guinn of Lee’s Summit, MO, grandchildren (her beloved little angels), Madison Gnagy, Adison Whitty, Ava Hyduk, Gipson Gnagy, Cruz Brim, Brayden Barclay, Braxton Brim, Falon Barclay, Adalynn Barclay, Tatum Hyduk, Britton Brim, Gavin Barclay, and Landry Barclay.  Numerous cousins and extended family.

Michelle’s celebration of life will be Friday, August 4, 2023, at The Chapel at First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas at 11:00 am. The family will be at 4021 Montague, Amarillo, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Michelle’s honor, to the Cindy Meyers Brim Memorial Scholarship in Amarillo, Texas. PO Box 51444 Amarillo, Texas 79159.

Viewing will be available from 10:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M., Thursday, August 3, 2023, at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home.

Some people fill your heart without even trying.