Ruby Gibson Allison

Ruby Nell Gibson Allison, 88, of Sylva, went home to be with the Lord on August 8, 2025.

Ruby was born July 26, 1937, to Glenn and Jessie Brooks Gibson. She was a child of God, charter member of Calvary Baptist Church, Sunday school teacher, church clerk, wife, mother, nanny, ma, homemaker, and gardener.

She also worked at Fairview Elementary School as a school bus driver, teacher’s aide and library assistant.

She was married to Odis Allison for 52 years before his passing in 2006.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was proceeded in death by two brothers Edward “Ed” and Charles Gibson, sister Cumi Gibson Hensley, and son-in-law Avery Ashe.

Surviving is her daughter Cathey Allison Ashe of Sylva and son Andrew (Pam) Allison of Tuckasegee; grandchildren Travis (Clarissa) and Tabitha Ashe of Sylva and Troy (Cheyenne) and Charli Shae Allison of Tuckasegee.

Great grandchildren Eli and Max Ashe of Sylva and Hayden, Blakelli, Maisie, and Hunter Allison of Tuckasegee; brother Bill (Jean) Gibson of Candler and sisters Myrtle Carvalho of Phoenix, AZ, Janie Benton of Sylva, and Linda Walden of Lawley, AL; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held at 3:00pm on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at Appalachian Funeral Services. Burial will follow at East Fork Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2:00-3:00pm prior to the service at the funeral home. 

Pallbearers are grandson Troy Allison and nephews Tony Broome, Chris, Kevin, and Jesse Gibson, and Eddie Orr. Honorary pallbearers are Joe Allison, David Bowers, and Bruce and Johnny Brooks.

Monetary donations can be made in Ruby’s memory to Calvary Baptist Church, PO Box 478, Sylva, NC 28779.