Connally Barnett Tibbs

Almost 70 years ago, Connally Barnett Tibbs, Jr. and Johnnie Faye Cluck decided to build a life together and they were married on November 20, 1943. On June 8, 2013 their eternal life together began, only separated from each other for four and a half hours. Connally Barnett Tibbs, Jr. was born December 28, 1925 at Stamford, Texas. Johnnie Faye Cluck was born August 27, 1925 at Mosheim Texas. They met at the Fairway Grocery Store, in Waco Texas where he was a receiving clerk and she worked at the candy counter. Connally spent a lot of time at the candy counter. Connally joined the Navy in April 1943 and served in World War II. During his 32 months of service, they were stationed in Corpus Christi and Kingsville,Texas and California. After the war they returned to Waco where Connally worked in the restaurant menu business from 1946-1958. They spent 4 years in Eastland, Texas where Connally worked for Victor Cornelius Printing, while Johnnie raised 4 kids with lots of homework. The spring of 1962 brought the Tibbs family to Abilene. Throughout 41 years of employment, Connally was employed by Fidelity Union Enterprises, the Abilene Reporter News and McMurry University where he retired after 19 years as Director of Printing. During this time, Johnnie was employed at HEB Grocery Store in Waco, Safeway Grocery, Austin Elementary School cafeteria and alongside Connally at McMurry University in Abilene. Johnnie retired the same time as Connally. Connally and Johnnie have been members of Southwest Park Baptist Church in Abilene for 51 years. Connally, known by everyone as “Papa”, loved to sit in the back yard of their home of 48 years at 2918 South 23rd, and play his Hawaiian and Bob Wills country music ---sometimes a little too loud for Mama’s tastes. Johnnie, known by everyone as “Mama”, loved to remind Papa that they had neighbors who might not have the same love of that kind of music or quite that loud. Mama’s Sunday specialty was pot roast, potatoes and gravy and yes, even carrots, followed by banana pudding — yet to be duplicated by any family member. As they passed into glory, Papa and Mama were surrounded by family and many friends at Wisteria Place in Abilene. Visitation for both will be 5 to 7 PM Tuesday June 11, 2013 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home at 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, Texas. Funeral services for both will be held on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 10 AM at Southwest Park Baptist Church at 2901 South 20th, Abilene, Texas followed by a graveside service at Elmwood Memorial Park at 5750 Highway 277 South, Abilene Texas. Connally was preceded in death by his parents, Connally Barnett, Sr. and Bessie Tibbs as well as two brothers and two sisters. Connally is survived by his younger sister, Flora Leigh Athey, who currently resides in Lorena, Texas. Johnnie was preceded in death by her parents, William and Rozella Cluck, as well as four sisters and five brothers. Johnnie is survived by her brother-in-law, Fred Bohne who resides in Waco Texas. Connally and Johnnie are survived by their 4 children and families, George Tibbs and wife Beverly, Jerry Tibbs and wife Helga, Cynthia Roemisch and husband Randy, and Billy Tibbs; 13 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren. Our family extends our appreciation to the staff of Wisteria Place in Abilene for their loving and consistent care for Papa and Mama for the past 3 years. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to Southwest Park Baptist Church, Meals-on-Wheels or Hendrick Hospice Care in their honor.