A Great Man...

A great man is no longer with us and will forever be missed. My grandpa, Wayne Calhoun, passed away this past Friday and my heart still aches.  He's been sick on and off for a while, but it was finally his time to go.  Carlos, Lucy and I loaded up in the car early Friday morning headed to Amarillo, TX trying to make it to the hospital in time.  We were about 1 1/2 hours away when I got the call.  He was such a great man and we were all blessed to have had him in our lives. He was a wonderful father to my mother, grandfather to me and great-grandfather to Lucy.  He absolutely adored Lucy and had her pictures all over his refrigerator.  I will miss our long talks on the phone, miss listening to all of his stories, miss the smell of his cologne, miss the squeeze of his hand, miss his strong hug, miss him.  

Wayne Lee Calhoun – November 4, 2011

Wayne Lee Calhoun, 82, of Amarillo, died Friday, November 4, 2011.

As was his giving heart in life, so it extends past death as he donated his body to Texas Tech University School of Medicine.  Private family services will be held at a later date in conjunction with Texas Tech.

Mr. Calhoun was born in Liberal, KS on May 21, 1929.  He had just celebrated his 82nd birthday with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren at his bedside.

He graduated from Liberal High School in 1948.  He played basketball all of his high school years.  He was a captain his senior year, bringing home the state championship.

He went to work for Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Co. in 1948.  He worked 37 years before retiring.  To his legacy, he only took 5 sick days, 3 for delivery of his baby girls and 2 for pneumonia.  He was a measurement technician in the field.

He married his beautiful bride, Helen Elizabeth Walters on July 9, 1951.  They started their married life in a camp house at Sneed Plant.  They would move many times following the gas pipeline at Liberal, KS, Turpin, OK, Stinnett, Gruver, and finally Guymon, OK.

Wayne was always a hard worker.  He had several side jobs along the way, mostly as a painting contractor. He made sure his 3 girls never wanted for anything.

He and Helen moved to Amarillo where he promptly went to work for St. Anthony’s Hospital.  He retired there after 15 years.  His last employer was Gene Messer Ford as a driver and he held that job until 4 years ago.  He was an avid BINGO player.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Helen; his parents, Lee and Pearl Calhoun; a sister, Maxine Bangs; and a brother, Dean Calhoun.

He is survived by 3 daughters, Marsha Griffin and husband Bill of Dumas, Cindy Farris and husband Jerry of Edmond, OK, and Debbie Frasier and husband Shane of Amarillo.  He is also survived by 7 grandchildren, Lance Immel of Peoria, AZ, Lynde Immel Ross of Austin, Jennifer Christian Armstrong of Borger, Connie Christian Barton of Amarillo, Ashley Griffin Simpson of Boerne, Crissie Farris Carter of Moore, OK, and Amanda Farris Rodriguez of Norman, OK.; and by 15 great-grandchildren, the delights of his heart, Sydney and Jace McCutchan, Abigail and Luke Ross, all of Austin, Tyler Immel and MiKaela Alwan of Dumas, Clay, Haley and Zachary Armstrong, all of Borger, Camryn and Ethan Barton of Amarillo, Jackson Diven and Kaylee Carter, both of Moore, OK, Caden Simpson of Boerne, and Lucy Rodriguez of Norman, OK; his sister, Avis Bridenstein of Iowa.