ARGYLE, Texas — On the day people celebrated the love of their lives Jodie Gibson shared what life was like with her husband, Scott Gibson.
They met in college at a school dance. Jodie wasn't sure about where she wanted their friendship to go, so, she put it in God's hands and prayed for guidance.
"A young couple, not thinking that any tragedy would come our way," Jodie Gibson said about beloved coach and Principal Scott Gibson.
This is her first Valentine's Day without her husband of more than 25 years.
"I just really trying to seek guidance from God on whether he was a person for me," said Jodie Gibson.
Now, 25 years later, they have three sons and a daughter. Jodie said her husband always put family first. He even planned their yearly vacations.
But last month, during one of those vacations out of state, Scott Gibson fell off a snowmobile and suffered fatal injuries. Jodie Gibson was with him along with friends who all rendered first-aid until paramedics arrived to take him to the hospital. Right after the fall, Jodie Gibson said her husband joked, saying 'I hope you didn't record that,' not knowing the severity of the fall that would change her life forever.
"It was internal bleeding, but he was peaceful. He didn't suffer, you know. But it is a complete tragedy," she said. "It does feel like a whole part of you is completely missing."
Not just for Jodie Gibson and her four children, ages 10 to 22 years old, but so many in the tight-knit community of Argyle.
In 2009, Scott Gibson became the principal at Argyle Middle School. He worked in several North Texas school districts before that. That's why thousands packed his funeral and memorial services to celebrate Scott and share stories about him. That's when Jodie learned even more how much Scott had impacted people's lives not just in Argyle, but across North Texas.
"He really was a great man," Jodie Gibson said, "I knew that, but I am glad that the world knew that too."
Jodie's prayer memorial at home helps her one day at a time. Her Valentine's Day this year is full of memories from their wedding album. It's a day this year when she leans even more so on her Faith.
"It's the only thing that has carried me through this. It's the only thing that can remotely allow me to make sense of this," said Gibson.
Despite spending this Valentine's Day without the love of her life, Jodie now focuses on taking care of their four children. Some Argyle school and community leaders hope to make sure Scott Gibson is never forgotten because of the impact he's had on so many lives throughout North Texas. Jodie hopes to be part of that process sometime in the future.