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 and son-in-law.
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.