Finley F Gibson III, 91, passed into his heavenly home on August 1, 2022.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday August 13, 2022, at 11:00 am, at Westminster By The Sea Presbyterian Church, 3221 S. Peninsula Dr., Daytona Beach Shores, Florida 32118.

Finley was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1931, to Finley Foreman Gibson Jr., Esq. and Helen Sanders Gibson, of Louisville Kentucky. His grandparents were Dr. Finley Foster Gibson Sr. (Daddy Dr), and Lucille Foreman Gibson (Mother Lou), of Louisville Kentucky.  Dr. Gibson (Daddy Dr) was the Pastor of Walnut Street Baptist Church, Louisville, from 1919-1941, where he baptized his grandson Finley III.

Finley was an avid athlete, playing football and basketball. He loved basketball, and was Captain at Anchorage High School 1949. He received a basketball scholarship to the University of Kentucky, recruited by Adolph Rupp. Due to a car accident on graduation night, he was in a coma for 3 months and had a long recovery. He then went to a private college in Suwannee, Tennessee, "University of the South". After college he worked for his father oil drilling in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Finley married Margarete Lois Goodiel (Peggy) in 1952 and had four children; Finley F Gibson IV (1953), Duane D Gibson (1955), Faith A Gibson (1957), and Scott Gibson Sprigg (1959).  Peggy passed to her heavenly home on August 29, 1960.

During the late 1960s, Finley moved his family to Dalton, Georgia, where he met up with his friend and classmate from Suwannee - Bob Shaw. Finley worked for Shaw Industries and managed The Carpet Values for many years. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Dalton, Georgia for many years, where he sang in the choir. He was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel in 1974.

He then met Richardia Wilson Osborn (Richie) from Cohutta Georgia, and they married 1974.

Richie had two children, Greg and Aime Osborn. Finley and Richie moved to Daytona Beach and started Prestige Carpet of Daytona in 1981, which is still in business today, and operated by Finley Gibson IV, Aime Osborn Bischoff, and Joe Mongato.

Finley enjoyed all sports. His favorite teams were the Kentucky Wildcats, Orlando Magic, Louisville Cardinals, Seminoles, Atlanta Braves, and the Georgia Bulldogs. He also enjoyed The Kentucky Derby, cruises, gambling, and traveling. He stayed active and healthy, walking three miles a day on the beach for many years.

A few of his favorite sayings, of which there are many, were, "Living on the beach is the next best thing to heaven", "Heaven help us all", "You can solve many problems watching a fire", and his very favorite, "Rainbow at Midnight "🌈.

Left to cherish his memories are his children: Finley F Gibson IV, his wife Grace, their children Finley F Gibson V (Jake), his wife Jess, their children Lily, Emma, Finley VI (Fin), and Bode, of Daytona Beach; Tina, her husband Scott, their children Scotty, Jack and Charlie Jane, of Universal City, Texas; Duane Gibson, his wife JoLyn, their children Duane Jr, Darren, his wife Jo, Derek and Dana Gibson of Greenville, Tennessee; Faith Osborn and her children Hope, Charity, her husband Rooster, their children Santina, Morgan, Annamaria, Joy and her children Trystan, Bryar and Asher of DeLand, Florida; Scott Gibson Sprigg, his wife Misty, and their son Scotty of Louisville, Kentucky; Greg Osborn of DeLand, and his daughter Tiffany, her children Mysteri and Braden of Melbourne, Florida; Aime and her husband Dave Bischoff, their children Corey, his wife Katie, their children Blake and Cecelia, Shelby Lorena, and Cole, his partner Macy of Daytona Beach; also his niece Camille Dean, and nephew David Dean, of Louisville, Kentucky.

Finley is preceded in death by his sister Helen Hill Dean, of Louisville, Kentucky, and Richardia Gibson, of Daytona Beach, Florida.

The family wishes to thank America's Best Caregivers and Halifax Health Hospice of Volusia/Flagler for the loving care they provided for our Dad.

Arrangements are under the careful direction of Cardwell Baggett & Summers Funeral Home, 301 Big Tree Road, South Daytona, FL 32119.

Condolences may be shared below on Finley's Guestbook.