Friends and former co-workers of Tracy Gibson dressed in purple to support her fight against cancer. Gibson, who died last week, was a teacher at Prince Street and Delmar Elementary schools.

Tracy Reese Gibson, 51, of Salisbury, died  Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Born Jan. 22, 1966, she was the daughter of George and Patricia Wenger Reese Jr. of Potomac, Md.

A 1984 graduate of Immaculata Preparatory School in Washington, D.C., she obtained an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree as a Reading Specialist from Salisbury University in 2003 and 2011, respectively.

She began her teaching career at Prince Street Elementary and later transferred to Delmar Elementary to be closer to her family. She enjoyed watching her children play sports, teaching Sunday school at Holy Redeemer Catholic church in Delmar and was a master at refinishing old furniture in her spare time.

For the past few months, community support for the Gibson family’s challenges has been overwhelming. School teams across the Eastern Shore have held rallies during athletic competitions to encourage the family.

“GibsonStrong” has been the theme as Tracy Gibson fought her disease.

She is survived by her husband, James M. Bennett football coach and athletic director Glenn “Hoot” Gibson; two daughters, Stephanie Cason and Colleen Kershner; two sons, Troy and Trevor “TJ” Gibson; a grandson, Thomas Cason; four sisters, Kathy Laing, Suzie Barry, Shelly Levey and Tricia Reese; a brother, George Reese III; and 17 nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at 10 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Salisbury. A visitation will be held tonight, Thursday, Nov. 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Holloway Funeral Home in Salisbury.

Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Dagsboro. Contributions can be made to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at pancan.org/donate or 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266.