THIBODEAU, Gerard Abraham (Tib)

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 10/15/2013 Gerard Thibodeau, 86, of Wellington, Kan., went home to be with his Lord Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013, at his home in Wellington, Kan. He was born Feb. 12, 1927, the son of Onesime and Leah Marie (Dupuis) Thibodeau in Old Town, Maine. Gerard went by many nicknames; two of the most common were “Tib” and “Papa Tib.” Tib grew up along the banks of the Penobscot River until February 1944, when he became a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve. He served until July 1946. In 1948, Tib married Edna Marilyn Carlow and to this union three children were born: Deborah Marie, John Joseph and Gerard James Thibodeau. Tib attended barber and hairdressing schools until February 1950, and from then on for the next 58 years he would joke that he liked to “get into people’s hair” until he retired at the age of 81. Tib owned and operated a barber shop with his brother Harold in Old Town, Maine. After moving to Arizona, he opened a second shop in Scottsdale, which he dubbed “Tib’s Baba Shop,” and eventually moved his shop to Overgaard. In 1974, Tib married Nancy Josephine Criswell in Scottsdale. Tib was a member of the Disabled American Veterans in Scottsdale and served as commander of the American Legion, Post 86, Heber/Overgaard. Gerard Abraham Thibodeau is survived by his companion, Deloris Phylis of Osage Beach, Mo.; children: Deborah (Rod) Mayo of Wellington, Kan., and Gerard James (Rachel) Thibodeau of Udall, Kan.; stepchildren: Craig (Dori) Lewis of Apache Junction and Tammy (Hank) Priebe of Buffalo, N.Y.; siblings: Doris Rivard, Rita St. Louis and Charles Thibodeau, all of Maine, and numerous beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandsons; and nieces and nephews galore. Tib was preceded in death by his parents, son John Joseph (Jay) Thibodeau, second wife Nancy Josephine (Criswell) Thibodeau and three brothers: Joseph, Robert and Harold Thibodeau. His family would like everyone to know that they celebrate his life and relationship with the Lord. Papa Tib loved life and lived it to its fullest. He also loved people and lived to entertain them with his many antics, stories of his childhood in Maine, his love of singing, playing the piano and the harmonica. He was well liked and loved by many, if not all, who had the pleasure to meet him and come to know him. He will be missed and remembered fondly. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, at the Hawks-Shelley Funeral Home in Wellington, Kan. For further information or to send a condolence, visit www.hawksfuneralhome.