Obituaries
Peggy Snider Gikas
Peggy Snider Gikas, 88, passed away on February 22, 2020 in Belton, Texas.
Peggy June Mayfield was born in Friona, Texas on September 15, 1931 to Mary and Howard Mayfield. She grew up on a farm with her parents and two older sisters, Jean and Dorothy. Peggy professed her love for the Lord and was baptized at age 13. She attended schools in Friona for 12 years. In high school, she played basketball, acted as drum major for 3 years, and played the timpani. After graduating from Friona High School in 1949, she attended West Texas State University.
Peggy married Melvin A. Snider, Jr. on January 20, 1951. They had three children: John (1952), Kim (1954), and David (1958). Junior farmed and raised beef for their family south of Farwell, Texas. Peggy was a homemaker, and she kept busy sewing clothes, canning garden produce, painting, and entertaining her many friends and family who enjoyed her home-cooked meals. She was a faithful member of Farwell United Methodist Church, volunteering her time as a Sunday School teacher, a youth leader, and a choir member. The Snider family took frequent ski trips, and they remember their life growing up on the Farwell farm as a happy and busy time. Junior passed away unexpectedly in August of 1980.
The family continued to farm, and in 1982 Peggy opened a decorating studio, Twin Oaks, PSI Design, with the help of her sister Dorothy and long-time friend June Magness. She continued her volunteer work and became a Commissioner for the Methodist Children’s Home in 1982, serving in this capacity and on the MCH Board of Directors until 2005. She married Chris Gikas on September 1, 1985. They traveled several times to Italy, Greece, and France, enjoying art in the beautiful European galleries. They continued to live in Farwell, volunteering in their community, participating in their church, and running Twin Oaks for many years. Chris passed away in 2004.
In 2008, Peggy moved to Albuquerque, NM to care for her sister Jean for the next four years. Then, in 2012, she moved to Salado to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Grady Newton. She joined the Salado United Methodist Church, participated in Sunday School and helped with the I-35 Thanksgiving Project, and the Family Promise ministry. She was very involved with her family and friends.
Peggy Snider is survived by her children John (and Deb) Snider of Texline, Texas, Kim (and Grady) Newton of Salado, Texas, and David (and Carol) Snider of Farwell, Texas. She leaves behind 3 grandchildren Lauren (and Chris) Glenn, Nick (and Alex) Newton (all of Salado), and Robert (and Caressa) Snider of Rochester, MN as well as five great-grandchildren Madison and Zeke Glenn, and Grace, Jett, and Kash Newton (all of Salado, Texas).
A service to celebrate Peggy’s life will be held on March 7, 2020 at 1:00 pm at Salado United Methodist Church. She will be buried next to her late husband, Junior, at Sunset Terrace Cemetery in Farwell. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to the Methodist Children’s Home in Waco or to the Salado UMC I-35 Thanksgiving Project.
Jesse “Dean” Eichenauer
Jesse “Dean” Eichenauer, 73 of Friona passed away peacefully in his home Thursday, February 27, 2020 after a 30 month battle with cancer. Viewing was held Sunday, March 1, 2020 from 1:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. with family visitation from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. in the Ron Smiley Memorial Chapel of HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona. Celebration of Life Services was held 10:30 A.M. Monday, March 2, 2020 at Victory Family Worship Center in Friona with Pastor Robert Kerby and Jeff Procter, Minister, officiating. Burial to be in Leander, Texas. Arrangements by HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona.
Dean was born May 5, 1946 in Defiance, Ohio to Daniel “Dale” and Glenna Amanda Eichenauer. He later married Heidi Nibert on August 21, 1971 after a 38 day courtship.
He entered the United States Air Force in September of 1965 and served honorably for 11 years. His service time took him to Japan, Korea, Philippines including Okinawa, Arizona, and Hawaii.
After his military service, he and his family moved to Ohio for 17 years where he had various jobs. He was a member and deacon of the First Church of God, Defiance, Ohio. They later moved to Wisconsin in the fall of 1995 where he developed his skills as a maintenance worker. In December of 2004, he and Heidi moved to Friona where he became known as “Mr. Dean, the handyman”. He was a member and elder of Victory Family Worship Center where he served his Lord and Savior. Always a “kid magnet”, he was loved by young and old alike.
Dean was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister Janet Eichenauer.
The youngest of four, he is survived by his wife Heidi of Friona, son Jason, daughter-in-law Erin and four grandsons-Josiah, Mason, Jensen and Cody, all of Leander, Tx. His older brother, Dan Eichenauer and older sister, Diane Moch still reside in Ohio.
You may send condolences to the family and sign the online register book at
www.hansardfamily.com
Timothy “Tim” Duane Brown
Timothy “Tim” Duane Brown, 60, left this earthly realm, surrounded by his wife, sons and family on February 28, 2020.
Tim was born in Tiffin, Ohio on August 18, 1959 to Birdell and Barbara (Lucas) Brown.
He married Twila Price on November 29, 1986.
Tim is sadly missed by his loving wife of 33 years, Twila; sons, Derek and Devin all of the home; siblings, Sam Brown of Tiffin, Ohio, Bob Brown and Sue Brown of Avon Lake, Ohio, Greg Brown of Loraine, Ohio, Pam Brown of Tiffin, Ohio, Tom Brown of Wichita, KS and Heather Kinn of Findlay, Ohio; his sister-in-law, Cheri Williams and Mike of Friona, TX, his brother-in-law, Aaron Price and Leslie of Ingleside, TX and father-in-law, Aubrey Price of Ingleside, TX.
He will be forever remembered by his numerous aunts, uncles and cousins, loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Tim was a story teller and always the life of the party, reliving his years growing up in Ohio and Kentucky, traveling through Louisiana, California, moving to Kansas where he met his wife, had his 3 boys, then moving to Iowa, Texas, Kansas again and eventually settling in Waco.
His stories were so wild you sometimes wondered how someone could have so many crazy escapades, such as the time he went swimming and swam over the top of an alligator, hitchhiking and picked up by White Snake’s drummer and so many more tales of adventure.
Tim was an early riser and could always be found watching FOX news and drinking his coffee every morning. He was teased for being a Trump lover and he never faltered in his support of “my president”. Tim loved sports, especially his Cleveland Browns that he remained loyal to in spite of their many losses. He was an avid golf fan, and loved to play the game himself, spending hours on the course with his father-in-law, brother-in-law and other family members. He loved riding his Harley and took many adventurous trips with his wife, father-in-law, brother-in-law and numerous friends. He was a hard worker who was dedicated with an immense work ethic and was a genius of a mechanic that developed his 35 year career with Cargill, going from shoveling guts to managing entire maintenance teams.
Tim loved his family recently proclaiming at a family gathering, “you’re my family, you don’t understand, it’s deep”. His humor, compassion, love for his family and friends will be forever missed.
Tim was preceded in death by his son, Dustin Brown, his parents, Birdell and Barbara Brown, his sisters, Diane Morris and Toni Brown, his mother-in-law, Joyce P. Price, and brother-in-law A.J. Price.
Clarence Martin
Clarence Martin, 90, longtime Friona resident passed away Tuesday February 25, 2020 in Lubbock. Viewing was held from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Thursday, February 27, 2020 in the Ron Smiley Memorial Chapel of HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona. Family visitation from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Celebration of Life Services were held at 10:30 A.M., Friday February 28, 2020 at First Baptist Church, 404 W 5th St in Friona with Chris Storey, Rev. Brett Hoyle and Rev. Gary Johnson, officiating. Burial following in the Friona Cemetery by HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona.
Clarence was born January 31, 1930 in Elk City, OK. He married Martha Wynona Carter on June 22, 1947, and spent his life farming and ranching. He designed and built High Plains Feedyard opening for business in 1969. He spent many years proudly serving on the board of directors for Deaf Smith Electric Cooperative, and was a lifetime and very active member of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
Clarence was recently preceded in death by son Greg Martin of Clovis, and great grandson Cole Jeffcoat of Lubbock.
Clarence is survived by his wife of 72 years, Wynona Martin of Friona; daughters Martha Turney and husband Fred, and Kathy Stone and husband JE all of Slaton; sons Larry Martin and wife Jeannie, Mike Martin and wife Reta all of Friona, and Keith Martin and wife Jacque of Amarillo; daughter-in-law Karen Martin of Clovis; sisters Marilyn Nidey of Campo, CO., and Betty Wallace of Creston, IA.; 16 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren all qualifying him as the world’s greatest Grandpa.
You may send condolences to the family and sign the online register book at www.hansardfamily.com
