Obituary: Georgie Irene Gibson Besner

1917 ~ 2003

Georgie Irene Gibson Besner, 85, of Provo, Utah died December 2, 2003.

She was born December 14, 1917 in Miami, Arizona, the daughter of Franklyn Lafayette and Bessie Belle Tate Gibson. She married Samuel Edward Besner on September 23, 1937 in Florence, Arizona and they were sealed in the Mesa Arizona Temple in 1952.

She grew up and attended schools in Globe, Arizona. She lived in Arizona until her husband passed away and she moved to Provo, Utah. She worked as coordinator of Auxiliary Services in housing for BYU and the Provo M.T.C. Irene loved to read, do genealogy and above all she loved her family.

Following her husband's death in 1962, Irene accompanied her daughter's family to Saudi Arabia for 18 months. During that time, she had the unexpected opportunity to work as a secretary in the Saudi Government's Ministry of Finance - one of the first western women to be employed in the Saudi Government.

As a BYU dormitory head resident for many years, Irene cherished her association with the thousands of young women she came to know and love. Many have remained Irene's steadfast friends through the years.

She served a mission at the Jerusalem Center as the Center's first hostess and housing coordinator. She also served as an Ordinance Worker in the Provo Temple for many years where she was loved and admired by all who knew her.

She is survived by a daughter, Linda (DerMont) Bell of Provo, Utah; six grandchildren: Erin (Garvin) Young, Lodi, CA; Jeff (Karen) Bell, Highland, Utah; Chris (Jill) Bell, Lehi, Utah; John Bell, Provo, Utah; Brandon (Audrey) Bell, Stansbury Park, Utah and Susan (Chad) Fullmer, Pleasant Grove, Utah, as well as 17 great grandchildren, one sister, Evelyn Anderson, Sandy, Utah and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers, Edward and Frank and two sisters, Edna Garrett and Leora Philipp.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 6, 2003 at 1:00 p.m. in the Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem, Utah Family and friends may visit from 11:45 to 12:45 p.m. prior to service. Burial will be in the East Lawn Memorial Cemetery.

To send condolences please visit www.walkerfamilymortuaries.com