Jason Allen Gibbens, age 38, of Klamath Falls, Oregon, died Saturday, September 27, 2008, in Klamath Falls, Oregon, losing his battle with mouth and lung cancer. His mother and stepfather were at his side. He was born March 16, 1970, in Decatur, Illinois, to Linda Rea and Arthur E. Gibbens III. He grew up in Illinois and Missouri, earning his GED in Jefferson City. A talented and creative cook, even as a child, he began his culinary career at Alice's Restaurant and Nibbley's in Klamath Falls. He continued restaurant work throughout the 1990's in Illinois, Missouri, and California. Always searching for new and challenging experiences, he obtained his Microsoft certification in the late 1990's and started his own computer and web site company in Ojai, Calif. Computers, cooking, cars, new wave and punk music remained passionate pursuits all his life. In 1990, Jason married Angela Hassinger. They had two sons, Michael and Tyler, and divorced in 1992. In 1993 and 1994, he had two sons, Gabriel and Elliot, with Kari Gardner. In 2002, he married Destiny Lind and their daughter Tabitha was born in 2003. He is survived by his mother and step-father, Linda and David Warner of Klamath, Falls, Oregon; his father and step-mother, Arthur and Kathy Gibbens of Bagnell; children, Michael and Tyler Gibbens of Decatur, Illinois, Gabriel and Elliot Gibbens of Peoria, Illinois, and Tabitha Gibbens of Santa Rosa, California; maternal grandmother, Helen Tucker of Jefferson City; sister, Kelly Erickson of Montreal; half sister, Mandy Gibbens and half brother, Dustin Gibbens, of Bagnell; aunts and uncles, Jeffrey Rea, Jody Bost, Russell Rea, Rex Curtsinger, Fran Allsop, Vickie Graham, Brenda Boots, and Ralph Gibbens. He was preceded in death by twin brother and sister; his maternal grandfather, George Rea; step-grandfather, Bob Tucker; and his paternal grandmother, Mary Gibbens, and grandfather, Arthur Gibbens II. Jason struggled with drug addiction that began in his teens and continued throughout his adult life. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to do so may send memorial contributions to their local drug education and prevention program. Private cremation will be held at Eternal Hills Crematory. A graveside service of tribute and love and interment in the Rea family plot will be held at the Eldon City Cemetery in Eldon, Missouri on Saturday, October 4, at 2 p.m. Eternal Hills Funeral Home of Klamath Falls, Oregon, and Phillips Funeral Home of Eldon, Missouri, are in charge of the arrangements.

Published in the NewsTribune on 10/1/2008