David Michael Julius Tibbs

David Michael Julius Tibbs, beloved son, brother, friend, family member, and coworker, passed away on Saturday, November 12, 2022, peacefully at home. He is survived by his father, David Brian Tibbs (Rose); and by his mother, Terri Lynn McHugh Spiak (Stephen). David had six siblings from his loving Brady Bunch kind of family: his beloved sister, Caitlin Armijo (Chris Valverde), Sandi (Perry Loomis), Rachael Wright, Christopher (Tracy) Spiak, Vincent Conte, and Stephen R. Spiak (Leala Longmire-Spiak). Also surviving David are paternal grandmother, Donna Lauritson; maternal grandmother, Karen McHugh; and aunts and uncles, Cheryl Tibbs Gnagey (Nevin), Daniel (Rita)Tibbs, and Laura McHugh Pusateri. His cousins, Andrew (Drew) (Catherine) Gnagey, Emily (Billy) Miller, and Sarah (Jimmy) Alfons, Christian Tibbs, Alaina Tibbs, and Jim, Joe, and Diane Pusateri were all important people in his life. His nieces and nephews, Dallas Ray and Phoenix Gail Loomis, Lillian Sage Valverde, and Joseph Stacey Wright will remember David as someone always ready to have fun with the kids because he was a big kid too. David had many friends who all loved him. Recently he found his perfect job working at Build-A-Bear Workshop in Cottonwood Mall where he found a true team of people who saw his special qualities for helping others.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Earl Tibbs, and maternal grandfather, James William McHugh; along with precious nephew, Lorenzo Valverde who he can now play with in the fields of heaven.

Two gatherings were held to celebrate David's life:  A Memorial Mass held on Friday, November 25, 2022 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 214 W. Wilson Ave. in Gallup at 11:00 a.m. and an informal Memorial gathering held on Sunday, November 27, 2022 at the home of Stephen and Terri Spiak, 7406 Santa Fe Trl. NW, Albuquerque from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

David Michael Julius Tibbs was unique, full of love for friends and family, was delightfully theatrical, loved sports and was full of boisterous energy and fun. He battled through a lot of difficult times to get to the best place in his life and he was right there, doing great. Those who knew and loved David know that he struggled. We take comfort in knowing he loved God, accepted Jesus as his savior, and he is in perfect peace in heaven now.