Community Unites For Noble Family Who Lost Home In Wildfires

Families across Oklahoma are still assessing damage and beginning the process of rebuilding what was lost in the devastating wildfires that ravaged the state. For one Noble family, the road to recovery won't be traveled alone.

"Hearing the words ‘You don't have anything left' you don't comprehend those words until I came over that second hill and I saw nothing, nothing. We had nothing. It's like a death," Sheila Gibson said.

Initial shock is wearing off after last weekend's wildfires, but emotions are still raw for families who lost everything.

"My kids...walked up...looking at the house, that's when I realized it didn't affect my wife and I, but it got my kids and I'm still having trouble with that," Chuck Gibson said.

The kids have grown and gone, but seeing their reaction to the devastation is the moment it sank in for the mom, Sheila, who works at OU and her husband Union electrician, Chuck.

The couple also lost their two dogs in the fire that consumed their home.

It has all been overwhelming for Chuck and Sheila Gibson, to say the least. Their home of 31 years reduced to rubble.  

"Fantastic friends and family, we put it out on Facebook we needed help and we got a crowd," Sheila said. "We got people from OU, people from IBEW local 1141, my husbands' a union electrician, people we don't even know from OU. God is good. All I can say is God is good."

"It's emotional," Chuck said as he patted his heart.

The couple was the first on the block. Both have coached a lot of kids in baseball and softball in the community over the years. Moms who brought their kids said Sheila used to braid their hair before games so they wanted to come out.

Now, they aren't the only family to lose their home, but even neighbors who did showed up to help out.

"After looking around today, we [are] going to make it," Chuck said with tears. "We got friends we forgot about, [but] they didn't forget us.  We're going to be alright."

A bean Supper fundraiser is being hosted Saturday Aug. 11 at 6 p.m. at the Covenant Church, 48th and Etowah Rd. for the Noble fire victims. It is sponsored by Noble Bear Down. The meals cost $5 per person, and fire victims eat free.