Memorial

Posted on February 7th, 2010 by loup.
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Carlsbad N.M. – Melody Ann Merckling Gibbs, 55, died February 5, 2002 at Carlsbad Medical Center.

She is survived by her husband, 1SG Thomas F. Gibbs, Jr. (Ret) and countless loved ones. She touched everyone she knew and to list them all would be near impossible. She was born January 8, 1947 in Columbus, Ohio. She was the daughter of Theus M. Merckling and the late Maurice L. Merckling. She was a Westerville High School graduate, class of 1964. She was a lifelong member of the George L. Berhens Chapter #504, Order of the Eastern Star. As a girl she was active in Grange and Jobs Daughter’s. She married Thomas in 1980 and they traveled wherever the U.S. Army took them. She made every duty station home but felt the most comfortable in the desert and longed to return. In November, 2001 that dream was fulfilled, and even though it was a short time lived it was the happiest of her life.

Hers is a wild magical spirit, she did exactly as she pleased and spent her life helping others. She had planned to start an all species rescue with her daughter within the next year. The plans for that rescue are still in the works and her spirit will live on with the help of her husband, daughter Lehnanne, and son-in-law Michael.

A simple private service at the residence will be held for family and friends. We will scatter her ashes over the desert that she loved so much.

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Carlsbad N.M. – 1SG Thomas Franklin Gibbs, Jr. (Retired), 58, died June 21, 2002 at Carlsbad Medical Center.

Tom was born July 3, 1943 to the late Thomas F. Gibbs, Sr. and Wilmoth Whitlow Gibbs. He was preceded in death by his wife of over 20 years, Melody Ann Gibbs. Her passing in February 2002 had a profound affect on his health. He is survived by his three brothers and their families. He is also survived by his daughter Lehnanne Gibbs Kidd and her husband Michael. He showed a great love and affection for the family of his late wife, always believing that blood wasn’t as strong of a bond as love. Melody’s sister and brother-in-law Pat and John Thompson has a special place in his heart. He will be greatly missed.

Tom was raised in Floyd County, Virginia and a graduate of Floyd County High School. After graduation he joined the US Marine Corps and served in Viet Nam. After his enlistment with the Marines was up he returned home to Virginia only to find himself back in the US Armed Forces, this time with the US ARMY. He served his country for over 20 years. After retiring from the Army in 1991 he settled in Floyd County with his wife and lived and worked for over 10 years. In November 2001 he and his wife moved to Carlsbad, New Mexico. Shortly after her death he was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Bladder Cancer.

A simple private service at the residence was held for family and friends. We scattered his ashes in the same desert where his wife’s spirit soars so that they may be reunited. Tom was a spiritual man who believed that Church was a building and he didn’t need to be there to talk to God.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in the name of Thomas Gibbs to the Vista Care Family Hospice, 611 N. Canal St., Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220, would be greatly appreciated. Their compassion and care for Tom was the only thing that brought him peace in his final days. Without their help and support his quality of life would not have been as good as it was and his final moments would have been spent in agony and despair. Lehnanne is especially grateful for their compassion and kindness. Without the staff at Vista Care she would not have been able to care for Tom all of those weeks alone at home. There are no words that can convey the family’s appreciation for all that Vista Care nurses, doctors and staff did for him. We would like to honor his memory by helping other families in need through Vista Care Family Hospice.

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