Scattering Dave's Ashes in Honolulu

This is a video of a small memorial for Dave we had at Kaimana beach, also known as San Souci, were Dave, Kyler and I used to swim and surf. Thank you to all of my wonderful Hawaii friends for the aloha, love and support. I will never, ever forget your kindness. -- Jeanne

Music was his way of life

(from Dave's Aunt Mary)

I have many wonderful memories of Dave growing up. He was always a "neat kid" and though quiet, was fun to have around. When Mary and Lara and I moved to Mission Viejo, he was a great pal to both my girls..........more like a brother than a cousin. He and Paul had a band when they were in high school and I always enjoyed Saturday and Sunday afternoons when they would play. We lived across the street and I could enjoy their music as I went about my weekend chores.

Dave was my "Godson" as I was his sponsor at Baptism at Travis Air Base in 1963. He always had a special place in my heart and wore something of an "invisible halo" for me. Our unspoken affection and communication was very real and I treasure it. It was so wonderful when he met Jeanne as she was the " light of his life". Dave took his time getting to know people, but once he did, he was there for life. Such a wonderful quality in an otherwise "disposable" world. And I am certain that he fought to stay to be with his beloved Jeanne and Kyler. When the Christmas Card came two years ago with that wonderful picture of the three of them, it went right up on my refrigerator which is absent any others. It just was such a beautiful capture of the love they all share.

Dave made his own way in the world. I really admired him for "knowing himself" and following his passion for music. Music was his way of life. I was so touched when I received the CD and the beautiful fan from their wedding (which I unfortunately was unable to attend, but Mary and Lara were there). I loved having some of his music and growing to understand with some depth how this music nourished his soul. I still use the fan and listen to the music. And it comforts me to know that while he is so dearly missed here, he is in heaven waiting for us to one day join him. He loved both sets of grandparents so much and I know they all are a comfort to each other now. And now my thoughts and prayers are for Jeanne and Kyler. God has really asked a lot by summoning David home now. Please know that it is impossible to think of David without thinking of Dave and Jeanne and Kyler. You are such an integral part of who he is. I look forward to watching Kyler grow into the wonderful adult he will be and bringing so much joy to Jeanne. Children are our wealth...........make no mistake. Dave lives on in all of us and we are so lucky to have him. Everytime I hear a phrase like "All Righty" it is Dave tapping me on the shoulder reminding that he is very much with us.

With love,
"Ant" Mary

Broken Hearts

A passage from a book Jeanne is reading:

I have survived so much loss, as all of us have by our forties -- my parents, dear friends, my pets. Rubble is the ground on which our deepest friendships are built. If you haven't already, you will lose someone you can't live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and you never completely get over the loss of a deeply beloved person. But this is also good news. The person lives forever, in your broken heart that doesn't seal back up. And you come through and learn to dance with the banged up heart. You dance to the absurdities of life, you dance to the minuet of old friendships.

-- Anne Lamott in  Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith

Memorial Pictures

Photo of the altar in the Palapa at Doheny Beach.

Paddle out. 12 Surfers and boogie boarders went out, including:

Jeanne, Dave's wife
Doug, brother-in-law
Paul, brother
Sue, sister
Denis, brother
Joel, brother-in-law
Sue, sister-in-law
Johann, friend and bandmate
Hillary, friend
Paul, friend
Ross, cousin-in-law
2 cousins-in-law (Mary's husband and son)

Jeanne before the paddle out.

Back Home on a beautiful day.

Today, Dave's birthday and a day of remembering, was a beautiful day. His ashes were scattered by about 12 surfers and boogie boarders in Dana Point.

Dave is home.

This Shaker song was played at Dave's memorial by his Uncle Mike (who plays a mean bango). The lyrics are just perfect. When the day had almost petered out, Sue Campbell showed us how the song went.

This the Gift to Be Simple

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right.

Soon we will post some segments of the memorial on video.

It was a beautiful day.

Dave is home.

We miss you, Dave

Rest in Peace

David William Gibbs, 44, passed away on July 4, 2008 at City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, Calif. Dave was surrounded by his loving wife Jeanne Oakley, mother Eileen Gibbs and brother Paul after a hard-fought battle with leukemia.

A fund has been set up to benefit the education of Dave and Jeanne's son, Kyler. Donations to "Benefit Memorial Fund for David William Gibbs" can be made at any Wells Fargo bank.

An accomplished musician whose fingers danced with ease on electric and acoustic guitars, mandolins and ukuleles, David will be missed more than any words can say.

He was also a man with a kid's love for anything with an engine or wheels, from Skateboards to Go-Karts to motorcycles to Formula One racing cars.

Dave was born on Travis Air Force Base in Vallejo, Calif. on Aug. 4 1963 to James P. Gibbs and Eileen Gibbs. He spent much of his youth in Los Angeles and Mission Viejo where he learned how to surf, a pastime that he felt brought him closest to God.

Dave graduated from Capistrano Valley High School, Saddleback Community College and New York Technical Institute. In later years he became a certified auto mechanic, a profession in which he worked until he became ill in the spring of 2007.

Dave looked to music as his primary artistic outlet and played in bands in Southern California, San Francisco, Honolulu and Reno. He was a quiet man who didn't talk a lot, but when he spoke, he did not waste words. He also had a very dry and quirky sense of humor and was fond of the phrase, "Well, all righty then,"with an emphasis on the all righty.

In 1997 Dave met the love of his life, Jeanne Oakley in San Francisco and the two were married in Reno in 2001. The couple have one son, Kyler James Gene Oakley-Gibbs who Dave often referred to as "my little monkey."

After getting married, Dave and Jeanne moved to Honolulu for a few years where Dave enjoyed surfing and worked as a mechanic. The family then moved to Reno where Dave raced Go-Karts, enjoyed snowboarding and was a great dad and husband. In the summer of 2007 Dave moved back to Southern California to be close to his family and receive treatment for leukemia.

Dave "always found a great deal of joy in the ocean and in his music and motorcycles and car racing," his mother said. "He always was an individual, he always had his own vision of things."

In 2004 while living in Hawaii, Dave produced a solo music CD called Kookulele. One of the most popular tunes on the disk was "Nice Little Life."

"All I want is a nice little house, a nice little car and a sweet little wife,
It sounds so simple, but nothing ever is,
So take a moment to reflect on your life, how you treat others,
Did you get some comfort instead of strife?"

Dave is survived by his wife Jeanne, their son Kyler, parents Jim and Eileen Gibbs, brothers Paul and Denis, sisters Susan Lund and Cara Thompson and loving in-laws and their families.

The Oakley-Gibbs family would like to thank the dedicated MD's, nurses and staff at the City of Hope for their compassionate care.

On Friday 18 July there will be a Memorial Mass at 10:30 am at St Kilian Catholic Church, 26872 Estanciero Drive Mission Viejo, CA. A private surfer's memorial will be held at Doheny Beach, Dana Point, CA on David's birthday.