Brad Carroll Niblett

Brad Carroll Niblett May 23, 1954 – November 28, 2010 Brad was 56 years old when he left to be with his precious Lord, after a courageous 11 year battle with A.L.S. (Lou Gehrig's disease). Born in Carlsbad, New Mexico to Carroll and Sue Niblett, the family moved to a farm near Fruita, Colorado in 1960. Brad excelled in sports at an early age with baseball, track, football and wrestling. The family moved back to a cattle ranch in New Mexico, near Silver City in 1969. During his high school years, Brad again was a sports star and won the State Wrestling Championship, in the 126 pound division, his senior year in 1972. Brad attended Western New Mexico University where his interest was piqued in early solar adobe and energy efficient construction - he was ahead of his time. Brad constructed and lived in a tri-level, solar heated tipi (teepee) near a Taos, New Mexico, Indian reservation, for three years. He highly respected the Indians love of mother earth and learned so much from their simple lifestyle. Brad utilized and perfected the Kiva style ideas into heating and cooling solar adobe homes that he started to build, across the Southwest. For more than 25 years Brad built incredible custom solar adobe homes that were highly energy efficient with unique custom, curved, artistic features throughout. Brad was called a "Visionary" in a 2009 Daily Sentinel article featuring his homes and their unique designs. The true "adobero" in Brad preferred building with native handmade adobe bricks, but due to their scarcity he altered his building style to the more modern use of "ICF" (insulated concrete forms) with the poured-in-place walls, which he finished with the look of true adobes, Kiva rooms, hand peeled viga ceilings and more, promoting a total energy efficient solar concept. In 1999 Brad was diagnosed with ALS, but he always maintained his famous sense of humor and positive outlook, right up to his time of death. His nurses and care-takers constantly commented on how Brad made them feel better after each visit. Brad's family was the most important thing to him and he made changes in his life to ensure that his family could be with him to the end. Brad is survived by his parents, Carroll and Sue (Smith) Niblett; his sister, Ronda (Jerald) Sutton, his special care-takers and many dear friends. A family memorial service to honor Brad's life and his legacy will be held at a future date. If you have a funny story, photo or special memory of Brad that you would like to share with the family, please email it to: memoriesofbrad@gmail.com or mail to: 689 25 1/2 Road, Grand Junction, CO 81505. The family requests donations in the memory of Brad to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, 3090B N. 12th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81506.