Friends, family and colleagues spoke at a celebration of life ceremony Thursday for Maine Game Warden Joshua Tibbetts.

The ceremony took place at the Cross Insurance Center, with uniformed law enforcement and game wardens in attendance.

Family members like Joshua’s sister, Tricia Tibbetts-Clifford, reflected on his life and work, including his time working with the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy.

One colleague said Josh loved flying and had a lifelong dream of becoming a pilot for the Warden Service.

Tibbetts was an 18-year veteran with the Warden service who died when his plane went down in Avon last week while working with crews on the ground to restock fish.

The crash is under investigation by the NTSB and FAA.

Gov. Mills ordered flags to be flown at half-staff Thursday for Tibbetts as well as Gerald Talbot, the state’s first black legislator who died earlier this month at the age of 94.