Kinnie Gibson

Kinnie Gibson passed into the arms of the lord in the early hours of Thursday morning surrounded by his family. A service celebrating the life of Kinnie will be held on Monday, July 20, 2015 at The Church at Lake Cherokee beginning at Noon. The family would request that everybody wear comfortable clothes, NO SUITS. A reception and dock float is to follow the celebration of life at dock ST 91, a meal will be provided; please be sure to bring a swim suit and a towel. Kinnie was born in Beaumont TX to parents Howard and Jacqueline Gibson. Following high school, Kinnie began his ballooning career and soon found himself flying corporate balloons for Mickey Gilley, and touring Australia with Evil Knievel. Later Kinnie would use his ballooning skills to start a Hollywood Stunt career flying hot air balloons in Disney’s “Night Crossing” then go on to receive the “Best Aerial Stuntman” award for his filming on the TV series “Fall Guy”. Yearly Kinnie would participate in the Great Texas Hot Air Balloon Race, which he will be greatly missed in this year. Kinnie was the creator of the Rocketman persona and flew well over 600 flights, including at 2 Super Bowls, a flight around the Egyptian Sphinx, the rededication of the Statue of Liberty, as well as on many TV shows, including “The A-Team, Knight Rider, and Chips”. In addition to being an avid airman, Kinnie also served as a stuntman and second unit director, most well known for serving as the double of Chuck Norris in 204 episodes of “Walker Texas Ranger” and many of Norris’s feature films. In his 58 years Kinnie lived fife to the fullest. He traveled with his family around the world, took missions trip to the Amazon, scuba diving, sky diving, mother cycle rallies and of course precious time spent on the lake. He was a man with a sense of adventure and often referred to himself as “The world’s oldest living boy”. Kinnie was preceded in death by both of his parents. Those left to cherish the memories of Kinnie include his wife, Sheri Gibson of Lake Cherokee; Son, Westly Gibson, daughter, Lacey Gibson; as well as numerous extended family and friends. A Special thanks to his brothers Sammy and Shannon Gibson, as well as M.J Waddell ,Jeff Ayo, Marianne Bartz and Sandy Graf for their immense help during Kinnie’s last weeks. In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations be made to Natchez Children’s Home Services at www.ntzchs.org/donate, a childrens home that Kinnie loved to support.

Kinnie Gibson

June 7, 1956 - July 16, 2015