Kristen "Kris" Gayle Hibbs Lake

Kristen “Kris” Gayle Hibbs Lake, 71, passed away at her home in San Angelo, Texas, in the early morning hours of Wednesday, October 18, 2023.

Kristen was born on September 1, 1952, in Wichita Falls, Texas, to William Ray Hibbs and Johnnye Joyce Claer Hibbs. She was the youngest of 2 children. Prior to attending elementary school, Kristen attended a fine arts kindergarten where she learned elocution, singing, and dancing. Although she described herself as a “shy child”, Kristen loved to perform on the stage and the more the audience clapped, the more encores she performed. Growing up in Wichita Falls, Texas, Kristen played the piano and was a member of the Blue Birds and the Campfire Girls. She attended Wichita Falls Rider High School where she played the flute in the band, sang in the choir, was on the debate team, and played tennis. The summer before her senior year of high school, her family moved to Snyder, Texas. Kristen graduated from Snyder Senior High School on May 26, 1970.

After graduating from high school, Kristen attended Texas Tech University. It was at Texas Tech where she met her best friend and the love of her life, Garry Lake. Kristen and Garry were married on May 20, 1972. They welcomed their first child, Melissa Dawn, on June 28, 1973. Following Garry’s graduation from Texas Tech in May 1974, the young family moved to Houston, Texas, where Garry would attend pharmacy school at the University of Houston for the next three years. While her husband was in pharmacy school, Kristen worked as a secretary for Tennessee Life Insurance Company. After her husband graduated from pharmacy school, they returned to West Texas living in Abilene and Lubbock before settling in San Angelo in the spring of 1980. On June 14, 1982, they welcomed their second child, Brian Patrick.

Kristen was very involved and played an active role in her children’s lives. She was a Brownie troop leader for Melissa’s Brownie troop; a Den Mother for Brian’s Cub Scout troop; a member of the PTA at McGill, Bowie, and Bonham Elementary Schools; served as a Room Mother for both of her children’s classes; and was Room Mother Chairman at Bonham Elementary School. She received recognition for her service on the PTA by being awarded the PTA Lifetime Membership Award. Kristen attended numerous dance recitals and civic ballet rehearsals and performances in support of her daughter as well as attending Friday night Bobcat football games to watch her daughter’s halftime performances as a member of the Tex-Ann drill team. She never missed her son’s soccer games, basketball games, baseball games, football games, nor tennis matches. Her voice could be heard a mile away above the crowd cheering her son on. Once her children had grown up, she volunteered at Christmas at Old Fort Concho. Kristen had also taught Sunday school at St. Luke’s Methodist Church and taught vacation bible school at Sierra Vista United Methodist Church. She was always curious and wanted to know more about different cultures and religions. Kristen could spend countless hours on the internet researching topics of interest.

Kristen was preceded in death by her parents, William Ray and Johnnye Joyce Hibbs; maternal grandparents, Johnnie W. Claer and Lola Corder Haynes Claer; paternal grandparents, Virgil and Zethel Hibbs; aunt, Doris Perry; and cousin, Linda Gunter. She is survived by her husband, Garry Lake of San Angelo; her daughter, Melissa Lake of San Angelo; her son, Brian Lake and wife, Julie, of Lubbock; two grandchildren: Dylan and Peyton Lake of Lubbock; a brother, William R. “Bill” Hibbs II and wife, Vickie, of Corpus Christi; many cousins, nieces, and nephews; and her precious fur baby, Bella.

It was Kristen’s wish to be cremated. A Celebration of Life service for Kristen will be held on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at 2 PM at Harper Funeral Home. Pastor Kyle Toomire of Sierra Vista United Methodist Church will officiate the service.

The family sends their sincere appreciation to Dr. Cornelius Chinn, Solaris Hospice, and Quality Caring Hands for their loving care and compassion for Kristen.

Family and friends may share condolences and sign the online register book at www.harper-funeralhome.com.