Thomas Ervin Cribbs

Former Gardnerville resident Thomas Ervin Cribbs died in Great Falls, Mont., on Sept. 9, 2009.

Mr. Cribbs was born April 18, 1953, to Lawrence E. and Doris H. Cribbs in Placerville, Calif. The family moved to Sutter Creek, Calif., in 1962 where Mr. Cribbs grew up and was a graduate of Amador High School.

After graduating he worked for Weyerhauser Lumber Co. in Sepulveda, Calif. He returned to Jackson/Sutter Creek area where he met and married his wife, Bonnie.

Their son and daughter were born in Jackson, Calif. The family moved to Nevada and Montana, where Mr. Cribbs worked for several ranches in Nevada and Montana, but mostly for the lumber industry. He had his own small logging operation in Montana for nearly 12 years. When Mrs. Cribbs' parents and step-parents became ill and needed help, he moved back to Nevada so she could be closer to them.

Mr. Cribbs was a self-taught welder and fabricator, auto mechanic/painter, farrier and furrier.

He loved the outdoors, and enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping.

Mr. Cribbs is survived by his wife of 37 years; son Raymond, who is currently serving in the Army on his second tour in Iraq; daughter Tamara (Josh) Zuidema, a nurse, of Great Falls, Mont.; parents Larry and Doris Cribbs of Yerington; brothers William Cribbs (Sandra) of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., and Jess (Lisa) of Gardnerville; sister Laura (David) Evitt of Sutter Creek, Calif.; grandchildren Wade, Logan and Sean Cribbs and Johnathan and Morgan Zuidema as well as several nieces and nephews.

At his request no services will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charitable organization of choice.