February 4, 1934 – November 21, 2024
Our hearts are heavy with sadness at the passing of our beloved father and grandfather, Earl Dean La Fever, Sr. He died peacefully in New Braunfels, Texas after many years fighting off the devastating effects of dementia. His optimism, will power, and generosity will be missed by all that he called family and friends.
Dean was born February 4, 1934 in Chickasha, Oklahoma to Odie and Mable (Waggoner) La-Fever. He grew up in Perryton, Texas, graduating from Perryton High School in 1951.
He continued his education at West Texas State, in Canyon, Texas, earning a Bach-elor’s Degree in 1955 and a Master Degree in 1956.
He met his wife Georgia Lowe while at West Texas State and they were married July 16, 1953. Dean and Georgia had two children, Earl Dean La Fever. Jr. and Rebecca Joanne LaFever Williams and settled in El Paso, Texas.
Dean was born into a challenging childhood, but his mother, Mable, remarried to Oren Gatewood and as the result, Dean’s life had a new purpose. Oren was the local barber in Perryton and Dean became the shoeshine boy in the barbershop.
Mable and Oren passed on numerous life lessons which Dean took to heart. His shoeshine business, and frugal savings, meant Dean was able to proudly purchase a new car while in high school, a rarity in Perryton, so soon after the war.
Dean loved the outdoors and competitive sports. He lettered in multiple sports while at Perryton High. He loved hunting and fishing with his extended Waggoner family. He would talk about riding a motor scooter from Perryton to Amarillo and back, with his best friend as a co-pilot. They only acknowledged their journey after they returned.
Dean also loved to travel, he, Oren and his mother spent one month driving from the panhandle to Alaska to fish. He traveled to New York numerous times with EPNG, as well as a trip to Paris France.
He enjoyed going on cruises, and seeing different locations. But what he mostly loved was planning family and cousin reunions to reconnect with family and share stories and adventures they had at a young age.
He attended West Texas State, paying the entire costs himself. He was proud that he repaid his dad, Oren, for loans he received to complete his education. He worked numerous jobs in Canyon as well – driving a school bus before class, working at the local lumber yard, and teaching at the College while working on his Master’s Degree.
He served two years in the Army, providing accounting services to a number of assignments. Upon completion of his service, he was hired by El Paso Natural Gas, and over the years his drive and determination led to him achieving increasing responsible positions within the company. He retired after 30 years.
He learned carpentry from his father-in-law, and in retirement built numerous buildings, garages, house additions, and storage areas for neighbors and friends. He loved staying busy, always finding something to do. He enjoyed tennis and continued to play even into retirement. He also coached little league sports making lifelong friendships as the result. A number of players checked up on him later in life.
His legacy included a generosity for those who needed assistance. Whether volunteering for numerous non-profits, leading clothes drives and helping those who were down on their luck, Dean was always there for those in need. Growing up in poverty and seeing it first hand, Dean was always there for others and felt pride in being able to do so.
He was preceded in death by his father Odie La Fever, his mother Mable (Waggoner) Gatewood, his stepfather Oren Gatewood, and sister Joanne (La Fever) Flaming.
He is survived by his children Dean, Jr (Dianne), and Rebecca Joanne Williams (Mark), and grandchildren Justin LaFever (Travis Henson), Travis LaFever, David Alan Leo Raymond Leo van Boxtel-Williams (Kristen) and Seto Dawn Maria van Boxtel-Williams. He leaves behind many relatives and friends who will miss him, and joins many who will welcome him. Earl Dean La Fever, Sr. was 90 years old when he passed.