SHARE YOUR MEMORIES OF WALTER
September 4, 2007

Do you have a favorite Walter memory or photo that you'd like to share? We'd love to post your comments, remembrances and pictures in an online scrapbook page.

Email what you'd like to see included to jerryjeff@jerryjeff.com

SAD NEWS FROM TRIED & TRUE
August 29, 2007

We've just lost a good friend and trusted employee at Tried & True. Walter Gibson, whom many of you have known and loved, died of inoperable brain cancer early Wednesday morning. Walter was a class act and we were enormously fortunate to have had his presence here for as long as we did. It was Walter's wish to continue working and have his life as normal as possible for as long as he could and we were more than willing to honor that request. We will miss him terribly and always remember him fondly.

MEMORIES OF WALTER

---

Spent many a “BUS” trip to Luckenbach with Walter in the early years of the b-day bash and truly missed him when he was gone for a while a few years back, But seeing him again and knowing he was working for the Walkers again seemed to bring a little less chaos to the “Gonzo bunch” and seemed the last couple b’day events went somehow Smoother with Walter around helping Susan with us “Tried and True Warriors” 

THE BODY WITHERS AWAY AND DISAPPEARS BUT THE SMILE STILL REMAINS, OH THE SMILE STILL REMAINS Good night Walter where ever you are tonight!!!!!!

Steve and Tara Coutts “The Wisconsin ones”

---

Dear Jerry Jeff and Susan,

I never met Walter in person, but talked to him on the telephone twice and hung up thinking I made a new friend. He was so nice and willing to answer all my questions. I know he has given out the same info hundreds of times, but Walter was patient with me, and so friendly. His enthusiasm led me to Camp Belize last summer. I miss him myself.

Love and prayers,

Steve Porter

---

What a shock! On a semi routine check of the JJW web site today I was shocked to hear the news of Walter’s passing. I never did have the privilege of meeting Walter, but in 1999 after a crazy Gonzo style 40th Birthday party in Key West for a very good friend of mine I was challenged by my group of friends to “top this”! With Walter’s help I did. My wife and I took four other couples who had never heard of Jerry Jeff, Belize, San Pedro or Casa Gonzo. With Walter’s friendship he set us up with 8 nights at Casa Gonzo, helped us find our way from Atlanta to San Pedro, signed some books and CD’s for us, and made sure that we had the time of our lives. My friends that made that trip for my 40th birthday were great friends before the trip, but after that trip we have bonded further making memories that will last a lifetime in great part to Walter. Thanks to Walter we now have more Gringo’s in Belize, more JJW fans, and when we all think about going to Belize which we last did in June of 2007, we always have and always think of Walter. Our many blessings to Walter and the Walker’s, and to all he touch for the better.

Sincerely,

Mike, and his Gonzo Buddies: Kim, Alisa, Jeff, Rick, Molly, Jon, Lucy, Rhonda, Andy, Brian, Anne, Lori and John

---

Dear Jerry and Susan,

All of us at KPIR 1420 in Granbury, Texas want to express our sympathies to you and Walter' family and friends. While we did not know him personally, we have all lost someone close and know what you are feeling at this time.

God bless you all.

Buddy Hodges

General Manager/Owner

---

J. J. & Susan,

 

We have just heard of Walter's passing and having only just met him at this year's camp Belize we feel like we have lost a true friend. Since meeting him in Belize we spoke on the phone a few times and he was such a soft spoken and genuine voice, I truly felt his keen awareness of others. (a rare trait these days)

 

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends and all those who's life he impacted in a positive way. In the short time I knew him I can say that I believe his spirit lives on and is smiling down or around us as we remember him fondly.

 

Our best to you as we know that true friends can never be replaced but are certainly worth honoring and remembering.

 

Peace to you both,

 

Andy & Susan Lyons

 

Delaware USA

---

I knew Walter many years ago, pre his Jerry Jeff Walker days. He was a very good friend and I will always treasure our times together and his wonderful stories.  He will be missed.

 

dana

---

What a delightful man Walter was!  I met him in 1987 when we were both working at the Dallas Theater Center in the Development office.  He made that weird, high stress environment not only bearable but truly enjoyable.  We lost touch when he moved to Austin, but I have thought of him frequently and liked knowing that he was working with Jerry Jeff... that seemed to be a perfect fit.  I'm sorry he is gone.  His wonderful attitude bright smile and big laugh will be greatly missed.

 

Sadly - Laura Northern Venhaus 

---

Dear Jerry Jeff and Susan

I was so shocked to learn of Walter's passing. I have my browser set to open with your home page and was admiring the new look when I saw "Tribute to Walter" and clicked on it. It's the last thing I expected to see.

I first met Walter when I discovered Jerry Jeff in the late 90's. He was, as you say, "a class act." In Yiddish, we would say he was a "mentsch." While the literal translation only means a "man," to say someone is a "mentsch" is to say he is a man of quality, a man of character. Walter was that and more.

Walter was always soft-spoken, the repository of many good stories, and, I always suspected, the keeper of many good secrets. If memory serves me correctly, Walter was an attorney by training. But being part of Tried and True was a real calling and mission to him. He loved you both, the music, the excitement of the concerts, and the fans. I loved the Sunday morning get-togethers at his home before the concert. His hospitality was always first class.

I have not been to the last two birthday, now retirement, weekends, but am planning to be there this year. And I was looking forward to seeing Walter.

He was a good man. You were fortunate to have him as part of your posse. We will all miss him.

Rabbi Seymour Rosenbloom

---

Hi Susan & Jerry Jeff 

I recently learned of Walter’s passing. On behalf of Casino Arizona I would like to extend our sincere sympathies to Walter’s loved ones and all at Tried and True. I worked with Walter for Jerry Jeff’s gigs here and was able to visit with him in Belize a couple of times. He was always extremely professional and courteous. More so when he visited my family in Belize he was very friendly, cordial a very lovely and endearing man.  

Our heartfelt prayers and thoughts go to all of you and may Walter’s spirit be with you always. 

“There was never a time when you or I did not exist, nor will there ever be a time when we shall cease to be”
The Bhagavad-Gita  

Sincerely,
Wayne Marcus
 

Susan, Jerry Jeff:

Aw, heck.  I know how much Walter meant to both of you, and I sure am sorry to read about this.   Makes the Birthday and his greeting all the more meaningful, just to remember that constant growl and hello.

Hope the two of you are well in all other regards, and the bone-back growing.

This is probably totally inappropriate in many respects, but it’s always meant something simple and soothing for me. Used this in a eulogy a few years past, in fact a lot of years ago.  

Richard Brautigan section in his early stuff… Trout Fishing in America.   “A monument to a good ass gone under.”

There was nothing I could do. I couldn't change a flight of stairs into a creek. The boy walked back to where he came from The same thing once happened to me. I remember mistaking an old woman for a trout stream in Vermont, and I had to beg her pardon.

"Excuse me," I said. "I thought you were a trout stream."

"I'm not," she said.

A little way from the shack was an outhouse with its door flung violently open. The inside of the outhouse was exposed like a human face and the outhouse seemed to say, "The old guy who built me crapped in here 9,745 times and he's dead now and I don't want anyone else to touch me. He was a good guy. He built me with loving care. Leave me alone. I'm a monument now to a good ass gone under. There is no mystery here. That's why the door's open. “

Earl Casey

Our family never met Walter in person-but he was our "Jerry Jeff Travel Agent".  We have tied in Jerry Jeff Concerts to many special occasions over the years in our travels.  Walter was always there to suggest an appropriate Hotel or Restaurant.  He arranged for our entire family to stay in the Villa in Belize perfectly.  He was a gentleman and a scholar.  Jerry Jeff was fortunate to have Walter be the Spokesperson for such wonderful music.  I am sure all in Austin will miss him.  

Shannon, Elizabeth and Travis Estabrook

We are so saddened to hear the news of Walters passing.  He was always one of the voices on the phone that always lifted your day, and kept it fun.  Our prayers are with all of his family and friends. 

 Mike, Jan, Wayne, Everett, and Ric Casino Arizona, and Mike Moloney Entertainment.

Walter Gibson was the consummate professional who always greeted you with a smile and his "everything's gonna be alright" approach to life....

 

He was caring, concerned, polite and well intentioned at all costs. He dealt with JJW's fans in his role at Tried and True as the best of good will ambassadors and did it year in and year out.

 

He was a CUBS fan. Go figure.....

 

He was intelligent and as worldly as they come yet his down to earth charm and humility were always at the surface of his genuine personality.

 

I will miss Walter.

 

Chris Joyce

T&TW

This is truly sad news!  I met Walter over the phone when he bent over backwards to hook me up with tickets to the most recent Birthday Bash event at the Broken Spoke.  I made it a point to seek Walter out and personally thank him for his kindness help.  Just in my brief time knowing Walter he was a true gentleman.

Brian Holley
 

---

My name is Joe. I never met Walter in person but spoke with him several times. The first time I spoke with him was when heading to Austin. Wanted to drop off me guitar for JJW to personalize.

 

Couldn't pull it off but Walter assured me when JJW came to Houston or Galveston he would make it happen.....and he did. I was the only one to see Jerry that night.

 

My Dad's name was Walter, and I joked with him about being a good name. He was always patient and never hurried on the phone, but you could tell he was always busy.

 

Promised Walter a cold one or a cup of coffee when I was able to get to Austin. Tried to hook up and it just did not happen. The signed guitar means more to me now than ever.

 

I know he will be thirsty when we meet on the other side.

 

Joe